Methods and Apparatus for Assessing Physiological Conditions

ABSTRACT

Monitoring apparatus and methods are provided for assessing a physiological condition of a subject. At least two types of physiological information are detected from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein each type of physiological information is individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. Environmental information from a vicinity of a subject also may be detected, and an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject may be made using the environmental information in combination with the physiological information. Exemplary physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate. Exemplary environmental information may include humidity level information in the vicinity of the subject. An exemplary physiological condition assessment may be subject hydration level.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/208,567 filed Feb. 25,2009, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/208,574 filed Feb. 25,2009, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/212,444 filed Apr. 13, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/274,191 filed Aug. 14, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to health and, more particularly, to health monitoring methods and apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is growing market demand for personal health and environmental monitors, for example, for gauging overall health and metabolism during exercise, athletic training, dieting, and physical therapy. However, traditional health monitors and environmental monitors may be bulky, rigid, and uncomfortable—generally not suitable for use during daily physical activity. There is also growing interest in generating and comparing health and environmental exposure statistics of the general public and particular demographic groups. For example, collective statistics enable the healthcare industry and medical community to direct healthcare resources to where they are most highly valued. However, methods of collecting these statistics may be expensive and laborious, often utilizing human-based recording/analysis steps at multiple sites.

SUMMARY

It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, the concepts being further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of this disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject includes detecting at least two types of physiological information from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject, and making an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein each type of physiological information is individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. For example, the at least two types of physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject tympanic membrane temperature, and the physiological condition assessment may be total calories burned by the subject in a selected time period. In another example, the at least two types of physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature and subject breathing rate, and the physiological condition assessment may be subject stress level. In another example, the at least two types of physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature and subject breathing rate, and the physiological condition assessment may be subject warm-up time for a physical activity and subject recovery time from the physical activity. “Warm-up” time is the time it takes a subject to reach a status suitable for exercise starting from rest. A suitable status for exercise may include an elevated temperature, heart rate, blood flow, and breathing volume. “Recovery time” is the time it takes the subject to reach a status suitable for rest following exercise. A suitable status for rest may include a reduced temperature, heart rate, blood flow, and breathing rate or volume.

In some embodiments, environmental information from a vicinity of a subject may be detected via the monitoring device. An assessment of a physiological condition of the subject may be made using the environmental information in combination with at least two types of physiological information, as described above. For example, the at least two types of physiological information may include subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate; the environmental information may include humidity level information in the vicinity of the subject (e.g., ambient state humidity, natural state humidity, etc.); and the physiological condition assessment may be subject hydration level.

A monitoring device for performing a method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject, according to embodiments of the present invention, may be configured to be worn at or near an ear of the subject. For example, the monitoring device may be a headset, and earbud of a headset, or another portable device. In some embodiments, a monitoring device for performing a method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject, according to embodiments of the present invention, may be configured to provide information to the subject about a physiological condition assessment, and may be configured to receive input from the subject. In some embodiments of the present invention, the assessment of a physiological condition of the subject may be made using the at least two types of physiological information along with any information input into the monitoring device by the subject.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject includes detecting at least two types of the following physiological information from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject: subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject temperature (e.g., tympanic membrane temperature, etc.); detecting environmental conditions in a vicinity of the subject; and making an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and the environmental information, wherein the environmental information and at least two types of physiological information are individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. Exemplary subject physiological conditions for which assessments may be made include VO₂, VO_(2max), metabolic zone, metabolic equivalent, active calories burned, total calories burned, hydration status, heart rate variability, cardiac response, stress level, warm up time, recovery time, activity performance level.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a monitoring apparatus for use in assessing one or more physiological conditions of a subject includes a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject, at least one physiological sensor attached to the housing that is configured to detect at least two types of physiological information from the subject, and a processor. In some embodiments, at least one environmental sensor is attached to the housing and is configured to detect environmental information, such as environmental exposures or conditions, from a vicinity of the subject. The housing may be a headset or an earbud of a headset that is configured to be attached to an ear of the subject. In some embodiments, the housing may be configured to be attached near an ear, head, or neck region of the subject.

Exemplary physiological sensors that may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may be configured to detect and/or measure one or more of the following types of physiological information: heart rate, pulse rate, breathing rate, blood flow, heartbeat signatures, cardio-pulmonary health, organ health, metabolism, electrolyte type and/or concentration, physical activity, caloric intake, caloric metabolism, blood metabolite levels or ratios, blood pH level, physical and/or psychological stress levels and/or stress level indicators, drug dosage and/or dosimetry, physiological drug reactions, drug chemistry, biochemistry, position and/or balance, body strain, neurological functioning, brain activity, brain waves, blood pressure, cranial pressure, hydration level, auscultatory information, auscultatory signals associated with pregnancy, physiological response to infection, skin and/or core body temperature, eye muscle movement, blood volume, inhaled and/or exhaled breath volume, physical exertion, exhaled breath physical and/or chemical composition, the presence and/or identity and/or concentration of viruses and/or bacteria, foreign matter in the body, internal toxins, heavy metals in the body, anxiety, fertility, ovulation, sex hormones, psychological mood, sleep patterns, hunger and/or thirst, hormone type and/or concentration, cholesterol, lipids, blood panel, bone density, organ and/or body weight, reflex response, sexual arousal, mental and/or physical alertness, sleepiness, auscultatory information, response to external stimuli, swallowing volume, swallowing rate, sickness, voice characteristics, voice tone, voice pitch, voice volume, vital signs, head tilt, allergic reactions, inflammation response, auto-immune response, mutagenic response, DNA, proteins, protein levels in the blood, water content of the blood, pheromones, internal body sounds, digestive system functioning, cellular regeneration response, healing response, stem cell regeneration response, and/or other physiological information.

Exemplary environmental sensors that may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may be configured to detect and/or measure one or more of the following types of environmental information: climate, humidity, temperature, pressure, barometric pressure, soot density, airborne particle density, airborne particle size, airborne particle shape, airborne particle identity, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogens, toxins, electromagnetic energy, optical radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, microwave radiation, terahertz radiation, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, radio waves, atomic energy alpha particles, atomic energy beta-particles, gravity, light intensity, light frequency, light flicker, light phase, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulfides, airborne pollution, foreign material in the air, viruses, bacteria, signatures from chemical weapons, wind, air turbulence, sound and/or acoustical energy, ultrasonic energy, noise pollution, human voices, animal sounds, diseases expelled from others, exhaled breath and/or breath constituents of others, toxins from others, pheromones from others, industrial and/or transportation sounds, allergens, animal hair, pollen, exhaust from engines, vapors and/or fumes, fuel, signatures for mineral deposits and/or oil deposits, snow, rain, thermal energy, hot surfaces, hot gases, solar energy, hail, ice, vibrations, traffic, the number of people in a vicinity of the person, coughing and/or sneezing sounds from people in the vicinity of the person, loudness and/or pitch from those speaking in the vicinity of the person, and/or other environmental information.

The processor is configured to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein the at least two types of physiological information are individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. For example, in some embodiments, the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect two or more of the following types of physiological information: subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject tympanic membrane temperature, and the processor is configured to make an assessment of total calories burned by the subject in a selected time period. In other embodiments, the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect two or more of the following types of physiological information: subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and the processor is configured to make an assessment of subject stress level. In other embodiments, the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect two or more of the following types of physiological information: subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and the processor is configured to make an assessment of subject warm-up time for a physical activity and subject recovery time from the physical activity. In other embodiments, the processor is configured to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and environmental information.

In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to process signals produced by the physiological and environmental sensors into signals that can be heard and/or viewed by the person wearing the apparatus. In some embodiments, the signal processor is configured to selectively extract environmental effects from signals produced by a physiological sensor and/or selectively extract physiological effects from signals produced by an environmental sensor.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of monitoring the health of one or more subjects includes receiving physiological and/or environmental information from each subject via respective portable monitoring devices associated with each subject, and analyzing the received information to identify and/or predict one or more health and/or environmental issues associated with the subjects. Each monitoring device has at least one physiological sensor and/or environmental sensor. Each physiological sensor is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the subject, and each environmental sensor is configured to detect and/or measure environmental conditions in a vicinity of the subject. The physiological information and/or environmental information may be analyzed locally via the monitoring device or may be transmitted to a location geographically remote from the subject for analysis. The collected information may undergo virtually any type of analysis. In some embodiments, the received information may be analyzed to identify and/or predict the aging rate of the subjects, to identify and/or predict environmental changes in the vicinity of the subjects, and to identify and/or predict psychological and/or physiological stress for the subjects.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, a method of monitoring patients, includes collecting physiological and/or environmental information from each patient via a monitoring device associated with each respective patient, and analyzing the collected information to determine caloric intake, health, and physical activity of each patient.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, a method of monitoring a participant in an activity includes collecting physiological and/or environmental information from a monitoring device associated with the participant, analyzing the collected physiological and/or environmental information to identify one or more health-related and/or environmental issues associated with the participant, and providing feedback to the participant, wherein the feedback is relevant to a skill utilized by the participant in the activity.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, a hydration status monitoring apparatus, that is configured to be worn at or near the body of a subject, includes a humidity sensor in communication with a physical activity sensor and signal processor. The humidity sensor is configured to measure a first humidity value during a time period of subject physical activity and a second humidity value during a time period of subject rest. The signal processor is configured to calculate hydration status of the subject using the difference between the first and second humidity values. In some embodiments, the humidity sensor, activity sensor, and signal processor are integrated into a single wearable device. In other embodiments, the humidity sensor, activity sensor, and signal processor are in communication with each other through at least one wireless connection. For example, the humidity sensor may be included within an earbud housing and the activity sensor and signal processor may be included within another portable device that wirelessly communicates with the humidity sensor.

Because the ear region is located next to a variety of “hot spots” for physiological an environmental sensing—including the tympanic membrane, the carotid artery, the paranasal sinus, etc.—in some cases an earpiece monitor may be preferred over other form factors. However, a variety of form factors may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention without limitation. Monitoring apparatus, according to embodiments of the present invention, can utilize commercially available open-architecture, ad hoc, wireless paradigms, such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or ZigBee. In some embodiments, a small, compact earpiece contains at least one microphone and one speaker, and is configured to transmit information wirelessly to a recording device such as, for example, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/or a computer. The earpiece contains a plurality of sensors for monitoring personal health and environmental exposure. Health and environmental information, sensed by the sensors is transmitted wirelessly, in real-time, to a recording device, capable of processing and organizing the data into meaningful displays, such as charts. In some embodiments, an earpiece user can monitor health and environmental exposure data in real-time, and may also access records of collected data throughout the day, week, month, etc., by observing charts and data through an audio-visual display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention. The drawings and description together serve to fully explain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telemetric monitoring device for physiological and/or environmental monitoring and personal communication, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telemetric network for health and environmental monitoring through portable telemetric monitoring devices, such as the device of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graphical user interface for displaying data, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an earpiece module according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrates an earpiece module with an adjustable mouthpiece for monitoring physiological and environmental information near the ear and mouth, according to some embodiments of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A illustrates the mouthpiece in a stored position and wherein FIG. 5B illustrates the mouthpiece in an extended operative position.

FIG. 6 illustrates an earpiece module incorporating various physiological and environmental sensors, according to some embodiments of the present invention, and being worn by a user.

FIG. 7 illustrates an earpiece module according to other embodiments of the present invention that includes a temple module for physiological and environmental monitoring.

FIG. 8 illustrates a monitoring device having a plurality of health (physiological) and environmental sensors and mounted onto a Bluetooth® headset module, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates the display of physiological and environmental information collected by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the display of demographic comparisons of physiological and environmental information, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the display of stress level over time as measured by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates the display of a healthy/stress map, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a graph of a subject's heart rate and physical activity as measured over a period of time by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a graph of predicted VO_(2max) and measured VO_(2max) for a group of subjects, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a graph of a subject's heart rate and tympanic membrane temperature as measured over a period of time by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a graph of a subject's sweat rate and body temperature as measured over a period of time by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are graphs of a subject's heart rate and physical activity as measured over a period of time by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a graph of a subject's heart rate, body temperature and physical activity as measured over a period of time by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a graph of predicted calories burned and measured calories burned for a subject, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a graph of tympanic membrane temperature and calorie burn rate for a subject as measured over a period of time by a monitoring device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise. In addition, the sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the figures and/or claims unless specifically indicated otherwise. Features described with respect to one figure or embodiment can be associated with another embodiment or figure although not specifically described or shown as such.

It will be understood that when a feature or element is referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be abbreviated as “/”.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

It will be understood that although the terms first and second are used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed below could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed below could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

The term “headset” includes any type of device or earpiece that may be attached to or near the ear (or ears) of a user and may have various configurations, without limitation. Headsets, as described herein, may include mono headsets (one earbud) and stereo headsets (two earbuds). The term “earpiece module” includes any type of device that may be attached to or near the ear of a user and may have various configurations, without limitation. The terms “headset” and “earpiece module” may be interchangeable.

The term “real-time” is used to describe a process of sensing, processing, or transmitting information in a time frame which is equal to or shorter than the minimum timescale at which the information is needed. For example, the real-time monitoring of pulse rate may result in a single average pulse-rate measurement every minute, averaged over 30 seconds, because an instantaneous pulse rate is often useless to the end user. Typically, averaged physiological and environmental information is more relevant than instantaneous changes. Thus, in the context of the present invention, signals may sometimes be processed over several seconds, or even minutes, in order to generate a “real-time” response.

The term “monitoring” refers to the act of measuring, quantifying, qualifying, estimating, sensing, calculating, interpolating, extrapolating, inferring, deducing, or any combination of these actions. More generally, “monitoring” refers to a way of getting information via one or more sensing elements (e.g., physiological sensors, environmental sensors, etc.). For example, “blood health monitoring” includes monitoring blood gas levels, blood hydration, and metabolite/electrolyte levels.

The term “physiological” refers to matter or energy of or from the body of a subject (e.g., humans, animals, etc.). In embodiments of the present invention, the term “physiological” is intended to be used broadly, covering both physical and psychological matter and energy of or from the body of a creature. However, in some cases, the term “psychological” is called-out separately to emphasize aspects of physiology that are more closely tied to conscious or subconscious brain activity rather than the activity of other organs, tissues, or cells.

The term “body” refers to the body of a subject (human or animal) that may wear a monitoring apparatus, according to embodiments of the present invention.

The term “assessment” refers to a measure of a particular quality based on data collected from at least one or more fundamental measure. Assessments refer to “indirect” measures that are based on at least one “direct” measure. For example, a direct measure of blood flow using photoplethysmography may yield information that may be compared with a direct measure of activity using accelerometers to generate an assessment of VO_(2max) (maximal oxygen uptake).

The term “psychosocial stress” refers to events of psychological or social origin which challenge the homeostatic state of biological systems.

The term “health” refers generally to the quality or quantity of one or more physiological parameters with reference to an organism's functional abilities.

The term “ad hoc” refers generally to a wireless connection established for the duration of one session without the need for a base station. Instead, devices discover others within range to form a network. Bluetooth®, Zigbee, and Wi-Fi protocols are a few examples.

The term “processor” refers to a device that takes one form of information and converts this information into another form, typically having more usefulness than the original form. For example, in this invention, a Bluecore processor may collect raw physiological or environmental data from various sensors and process this data into a meaningful assessment, such as pulse rate, blood pressure, or air quality. A variety of microprocessors or other processors may be used herein. The terms “signal processor” and “processor” are interchangeable.

The term “clinical study” refers broadly to the application of science to health, where “health” may refer to both physical health as well as mental or psychological health. The term “clinical study” and “clinical trial” are used interchangeably herein. As an example, the interaction between a therapy and health or physiology—such as a drug therapy, exercise/diet plan, physical regime, etc.—can constitute a clinical study. As another example, the interaction between the health and the environmental exposure of individuals or groups can constitute a clinical study. In some cases a clinical study is performed by professionals in medicine or science. In other cases, a clinical study is performed by amateurs, computer programs, or individuals themselves, sometimes in the form of self help.

The term “health study” refers to monitoring the health of an organism and studying the data regardless of the method of study.

The term “wellness” generally refers to a healthy balance of the mind-body and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being, and/or the state of being healthy. The term “wellness study” refers to the study of the quality of health and wellbeing. In some cases a wellness study is performed by professionals in medicine or science. In other cases, a clinical study is performed by amateurs, computer programs, or individuals themselves, sometimes in the form of self help.

The term “dieting plan” refers to a method of planning and/or regulating the intake of food or nutrients into the body. The term “exercise plan” refers to a method of planning or regulating physical activity. In many cases, a diet/exercise plan are used together to improve or reduce health. These plans can be operated by professionals, such as professional dieticians or physical trainers, or by amateurs. In some cases, these plans are regulated by computer programs or individuals themselves, sometimes in the form of self help.

The term “health study” refers to studying health as in its raw form, without necessarily being concerned about interactions between health and other factors.

The term “sickness and/or disease” refers generally to aspects of a sickness, disease, or injury in an individual or group of individuals.

The term “environmental exposure” refers to any environmental occurrence (or energy) to which an individual or group of individuals is exposed. For example, exposure to solar energy, air pollution, temperature, nuclear radiation, humidity, water, etc. may all constitute environmental exposure. A variety of relevant environmental energies are listed elsewhere herein.

In many cases, the above cases may overlap. As an example, a clinical study or wellness study may explore or record the interaction between physiological elements and environmental elements.

The term “aggregated” refers to information that is stored and/or grouped. In some cases, these groupings can be based on personal or demographical information, such as grouping based on ethnicity, sex, income, personal preferences or the like.

The term “biofeedback” relates to measuring a subject's bodily processes such as blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, galvanic skin response (sweating), muscle tension, etc., and conveying such information to the subject in real-time in order to raise the subject's awareness and conscious control of the related physiological activities. Herein, biofeedback is synonymous with personal physiological monitoring, where biochemical processes and environmental occurrences may be integrated into information for one or more individuals. For example, monitoring hormone levels and air quality through an innovative sensor network described herein for the purpose of tracking, predicting, and/or controlling ovulation is also considered biofeedback.

The term “profile” relates to a summary of noteworthy characteristics and/or habits of an individual or group of individuals. These characteristics may be physiological (health-related), environmental, statistical, demographical, behavioral, and the like. Age, location, gender, sex, weight, ethnicity, and/or height may be included in a profile. Additionally, a profile may reference the buying and/or spending habits of an individual or group. Profiles may be utilized in making predictions about an individual or group.

The term “support,” when used as a verb, means to assist and/or provide at least one method or outcome for something. For example, a method of supporting a therapy for something may refer to a method of assisting a therapeutic technique. In some cases, supporting a therapy may involve providing an entirely new method having a therapeutic outcome. As a more specific example, a noninvasive health and environmental monitor system/network may support a therapeutic drug study by noninvasively monitoring the real-time drug dosage in the body through multiwavelength pulse oximetry, monitoring core body temperature through thermal sensing of the tympanic membrane, and monitoring environments which may positively or negatively affect the quality of the drug therapy.

Some embodiments of the present invention arise from a discovery that the ear is an ideal location on the human body for a wearable health and environmental monitor. The ear is a relatively immobile platform that does not obstruct a person's movement or vision. Devices located along the ear can have access to the inner-ear canal and tympanic membrane (for measuring core body temperature), muscle tissue (for monitoring muscle tension), the pinna and earlobe (for monitoring blood gas levels), the region behind the ear (for measuring skin temperature and galvanic skin response), and the internal carotid artery (for measuring cardiopulmonary functioning). The ear is also at or near the point of exposure to: environmental breathable toxicants of interest (volatile organic compounds, pollution, etc.); noise pollution experienced by the ear; and lighting conditions for the eye. Located adjacent to the brain, the ear serves as an excellent location for mounting neurological and electrical sensors for monitoring brain activity. Furthermore, as the ear canal is naturally designed for transmitting acoustical energy, the ear provides an optimal location for monitoring internal sounds, such as heartbeat, breathing rate, and mouth motion.

In the following figures earpiece modules will be illustrated and described for attachment to the ear of the human body. However, it is to be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those worn by humans. Moreover, monitoring apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention are not limited to earpiece modules and/or devices configured to be attached to or near the ear. Monitoring apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention may be worn on various parts of the body or even worn inside the body.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, monitoring apparatus for attachment to or near the ear of a subject include various types of headsets, including wired or wireless headsets. Bluetooth® enabled and/or other personal communication headsets may be configured to incorporate physiological and/or environmental sensors, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Bluetooth® headsets are typically lightweight, unobtrusive devices that have become widely accepted socially. Moreover, Bluetooth® headsets may be cost effective, easy to use, and are often worn by users for most of their waking hours while attending or waiting for cell phone calls. Bluetooth® headsets configured according to embodiments of the present invention are advantageous because they provide a function for the user beyond health monitoring, such as personal communication and multimedia applications, thereby encouraging user compliance with monitoring. Exemplary physiological and environmental sensors that may be incorporated into a Bluetooth® or other type of headset include, but are not limited to accelerometers, auscultatory sensors, pressure sensors, humidity sensors, color sensors, light intensity sensors, pressure sensors, etc.

Headsets, both mono (single earbud) and stereo (dual earbuds), incorporating low-profile sensors and other electronics, according to embodiments of the present invention, offer a platform for performing near-real-time personal health and environmental monitoring in wearable, socially acceptable devices. The capability to unobtrusively monitor an individual's physiology and/or environment, combined with improved user compliance, is expected to have significant impact on future planned health and environmental exposure studies. This is especially true for those that seek to link environmental stressors with personal stress level indicators. The large scale commercial availability of low-cost headset devices can enable cost-effective large scale studies. The combination of monitored data with user location via GPS data can make on-going geographic studies possible, including the tracking of infection over large geographic areas. The commercial application of the various proposed platforms encourages individual-driven health maintenance and promotes a healthier lifestyle through proper caloric intake and exercise.

Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention combine a personal communications headset device with one or more physiological and/or environmental sensors. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to headsets that communicate wirelessly. In some embodiments of the present invention, headsets configured to monitor an individual's physiology and/or environment may be wired to a device that stores and/or processes data. In some embodiments, this information may be stored on the headset itself.

Although some embodiments illustrated herein are devices, such as headsets, that are configured to be attached at or near the ear of a subject, it is understood that monitoring apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention can be utilized in proximity to any portion of the body of a subject, such as the limbs, torso, head, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a wearable monitoring device 10, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The illustrated wearable monitoring device 10 includes one or more of the following: a physiological sensor 11, an environmental sensor 12 (also referred to as an external energy sensor), a signal processor 13, a transmitter/receiver 14, a power source 16, a communication & entertainment module 17, a body attachment component 15, and a housing 18. Though the health and environmental sensor functionality can be obtained without the communication and entertainment module 17, having this additional module may promote use of the wearable monitoring device 10 by users. The illustrated wearable monitoring device 10 is intended primarily for human use; however, the wearable monitoring device 10 may also be configured for use with animals. In one preferred embodiment, the wearable monitoring device 10 is an earpiece module attached to the ear.

Monitoring devices, according to embodiments of the present invention, are not limited to the illustrated configuration of FIG. 1. A monitoring apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention may have one or more physiological sensors 11, one or more environmental sensors 12, or a combination of one or more physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12. In some embodiments, a monitoring apparatus may not have one or more of the following: an earpiece attachment component 15, a communication and entertainment module 17, a signal processor 13, or a transmitter/receiver 14.

A physiological sensor 11 can be any compact sensor for monitoring the physiological functioning of the body, such as, but not limited to, sensors for monitoring: heart rate, pulse rate, breathing rate, blood flow, heartbeat signatures, cardio-pulmonary health, organ health, metabolism, electrolyte type and concentration, physical activity, caloric intake, caloric metabolism, metabolomics, physical and psychological stress levels and stress level indicators, physiological and psychological response to therapy, drug dosage and activity (drug dosimetry), physiological drug reactions, drug chemistry in the body, biochemistry, position & balance, body strain, neurological functioning, brain activity, brain waves, blood pressure, cranial pressure, hydration level, auscultatory information, auscultatory signals associated with pregnancy, physiological response to infection, skin and core body temperature, eye muscle movement, blood volume, inhaled and exhaled breath volume, physical exertion, exhaled breath physical and chemical composition, the presence, identity, and concentration of viruses & bacteria, foreign matter in the body, internal toxins, heavy metals in the body, anxiety, fertility, ovulation, sex hormones, psychological mood, sleep patterns, hunger & thirst, hormone type and concentration, cholesterol, lipids, blood panel, bone density, body fat density, muscle density, organ and body weight, reflex response, sexual arousal, mental and physical alertness, sleepiness, auscultatory information, response to external stimuli, swallowing volume, swallowing rate, sickness, voice characteristics, tone, pitch, and volume of the voice, vital signs, head tilt, allergic reactions, inflammation response, auto-immune response, mutagenic response, DNA, proteins, protein levels in the blood, body hydration, water content of the blood, pheromones, internal body sounds, digestive system functioning, cellular regeneration response, healing response, stem cell regeneration response, and the like. Vital signs can include pulse rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, pulse signature, body temperature, hydration level, skin temperature, and the like. A physiological sensor may include an impedance plethysmograph for measuring changes in volume within an organ or body (usually resulting from fluctuations in the amount of blood or air it contains). For example, the wearable monitoring device 10 may include an impedance plethysmograph to monitor blood pressure in real-time.

An external energy sensor 12, serving primarily as an environmental sensor, can be any compact sensor for monitoring the external environment in the vicinity of the body, such as, but not limited to, sensors for monitoring: climate, humidity, temperature, pressure, barometric pressure, pollution, automobile exhaust, soot density, airborne particle density, airborne particle size, airborne particle shape, airborne particle identity, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carcinogens, toxins, electromagnetic energy (optical radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, microwave radiation, terahertz radiation, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, radio waves, and the like), EMF energy, atomic energy (alpha particles, beta-particles, gamma rays, and the like), gravity, light properties (such as intensity, frequency, flicker, and phase), ozone, carbon monoxide, greenhouse gases, CO2, nitrous oxide, sulfides, airborne pollution, foreign material in the air, biological particles (viruses, bacteria, and toxins), signatures from chemical weapons, wind, air turbulence, sound and acoustical energy (both human audible and inaudible), ultrasonic energy, noise pollution, human voices, animal sounds, diseases expelled from others, the exhaled breath and breath constituents of others, toxins from others, bacteria & viruses from others, pheromones from others, industrial and transportation sounds, allergens, animal hair, pollen, exhaust from engines, vapors & fumes, fuel, signatures for mineral deposits or oil deposits, snow, rain, thermal energy, hot surfaces, hot gases, solar energy, hail, ice, vibrations, traffic, the number of people in a vicinity of the user, the number of people encountered throughout the day, other earpiece module users in the vicinity of the earpiece module user, coughing and sneezing sounds from people in the vicinity of the user, loudness and pitch from those speaking in the vicinity of the user, and the like.

In some embodiments, a physiological sensor 11 and/or an environmental sensor 12 may be configured to identify a person, such as biometric identification of a person, to whom the wearable monitoring device 10 is attached (or may be configured to identify other persons in the vicinity of the person wearing the monitoring device 10).

In some embodiments, a physiological sensor 11 and/or an environmental sensor 12 may be configured to monitor physical aging rate of a person or subject. The signal processor 13 may be configured to process information from a physiological sensor and/or an environmental sensor to assess aging rate. Physiological sensors configured to assess aging rate may include pulse rate sensors, blood pressure sensors, activity sensors, and psychosocial stress sensors. Environmental sensors configured to assess aging rate may include UV sensors and pollution sensors.

In some embodiments, a physiological sensor 11 and/or an environmental sensor 12 may be configured to be regenerated through a physical and/or chemical change. For example, it is anticipated that a wearable monitoring device 10, or other device incorporating physiological and/or environmental sensors according to embodiments of the present invention, may be coupled to an apparatus that is configured to “recharge” or regenerate one or more environmental and/or physiological sensors via a physical process or a chemical process, etc. For example, a recharging module for recharging electric power to the wearable monitoring device 10 may also use electrical energy to reverse a chemical or physical change in one of the sensors. One example of such a sensor would be a sensor that requires the absorption or desorption of water vapor for resetting to baseline operation. Another example is a sensor that is reset (recharged) through oxidation or reduction in order to change the surface properties for monitoring vapors, such as some metal oxide sensors.

Because the wearable monitoring device 10 is capable of measuring and transmitting sensor information in real-time over a duration of time, the physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12 can be used to sense the aforementioned parameters over time, enabling a time-dependent analysis of the user's health and environment as well as enabling a comparison between the user's health and environment. Combined with proximity or location detection, this allows an analysis for pinpointing the location where environmental stress and physical strain took place.

Proximity detection can be accomplished through GPS type devices integrated into the monitoring device 10 or a personal communication device in communication with the monitoring device 10. Proximity detection can also be accomplished through triangulation of wireless signals; if a cellular phone is used as the personal communication device (such as 22 of FIG. 2), proximity can be identified through existing cellular infrastructure for identifying the time and location of a phone call.

The signal processor 13 provides a means of converting the digital or analog signals from the sensors 11, 12 into data that can be transmitted wirelessly by the transmitter 14. The signal processor 13 may be composed of, for example, signal conditioners, amplifiers, filters, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters, digital encoders, modulators, mixers, multiplexers, transistors, various switches, microprocessors, or the like. For personal communication, the signal processor 13 processes signals received by the receiver 14 into signals that can be heard or viewed by the user. The received signals may also contain protocol information for linking various telemetric modules together, and this protocol information can also be processed by the signal processor 13.

The signal processor 13 may utilize one or more compression/decompression algorithms (CODECs) used in digital media for processing data. The transmitter/receiver 14 can be comprised of a variety of compact electromagnetic transmitters. A standard compact antenna is used in the standard Bluetooth® headset protocol, but any kind of electromagnetic antenna suitable for transmitting at human-safe electromagnetic frequencies may be utilized. The transmitter/receiver 14 can also be an antenna. In some embodiments, a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna are physically the same. The receiver/transmitter 14 can be, for example, a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) optical scatter transmission system. These systems typically use short-wave (blue or UV) optical radiation or “solar blind” (deep-UV) radiation in order to promote optical scatter, but IR wavelengths can also suffice.

Additionally, a sonic or ultrasonic transmitter can be used as the receiver/transmitter 14 of the wearable monitoring device 10, but using sounds that are higher or lower than the human hearing range. A variety of sonic and ultrasonic receivers and transmitters are available in the marketplace and may be utilized in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. If a telecommunication device 22 (FIG. 2) receiving wireless data signal 19 from the wearable monitoring device 10 is in close proximity to the wearable monitoring device 10, and the wearable monitoring device 10 is an earpiece module, a variety of transmission schemes can be used. For communicating audible conversational information directly to the earpiece user, encoded telemetric conversational data received by the receiver 14 can be decoded by the signal processing module 13 to generate an electrical signal that can be converted into audible sound by the communication module 17.

In some embodiments, the transmitter/receiver 14 is configured to transmit signals from the signal processor to the remote terminal following a predetermined time interval. For example, the transmitter may delay transmission until a certain amount of detection time has elapsed, until a certain amount of processing time has elapsed, etc. In some cases, the transmitter/receiver 14 is configured to transmit signals to the remote terminal dependent on information sensed by the sensors 11, 12. For example, if an unstable pulse rate is sensed, a warning message may be sent to a remote terminal to communicate a need for help at a particular location.

The power source 16 can be any portable power source capable of fitting inside the housing 18. According to some embodiments, the power source 16 is a portable rechargeable lithium-polymer or zinc-air battery. Additionally, portable energy-harvesting power sources can be integrated into the wearable monitoring device 10 and can serve as a primary or secondary power source. For example, a solar cell module can be integrated into the wearable monitoring device 10 for collecting and storing solar energy. Additionally, piezoelectric devices or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be used to collect and store energy from body movements, electromagnetic energy, and other forms of energy in the environment or from the user himself. A thermoelectric or thermovoltaic device can be used to supply some degree of power from thermal energy or temperature gradients. In some embodiments, a cranking or winding mechanism can be used to store mechanical energy for electrical conversion or to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy that can be used immediately or stored for later.

The various components described above are configured to fit within the wearable monitoring device housing 18 and/or be attached thereto. In the case where the wearable monitoring device 10 is an earpiece module, the housing 18 may be formed from any safe and comfortable solid material, such as metal, rubber, wood, polymers, ceramic, organic materials, or various forms of plastic. The body attachment component 15 is attached to the housing 18 and may be designed to fit around or near the ear. For example, a conventional standard Bluetooth® headset includes an earpiece attachment that is connected to the headset housing via a double-jointed socket, to provide comfort and positioning flexibility for the user. In some embodiments, the body attachment component 15 can be part of the housing 18, such that the entire earpiece module is one largely inflexible, rigid unit. In such case, a counterweight may be incorporated into the wearable monitoring device 10 to balance the weight of the earpiece electronics and power source. In some embodiments, the body attachment component 15 can contain physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12, and the body attachment component 15 may be detachable. In some embodiments, more than one earpiece attachment 15 can be attached to the housing 18.

The communication and entertainment module 17 (also interchangeably referred to as a “communication module”) is used for, but not limited to: processing or generating an audible sound from information received via the transmitter/receiver 14 (from a cell phone, computer, network, database, or the like) and/or processing or generating an electrical signal from an audible sound from the user such that the electrical signal can be transmitted telemetrically via the transmitter/receiver 14. For example, in standard Bluetooth® protocol, communication electronics are used to convert an audible conversation into an electrical signal for telemetric conversation; communication electronics are also used to convert a digitized telemetric conversation into an audible conversation for the earpiece user. Additionally, the communication and entertainment module 17 can be used to store, process, or play analog or digital information from music, radio shows, videos, or other audible entertainment and to communicate this information to an earpiece user. In many cases, this information includes information received by the transmitter/receiver 14. In many cases, the analog or digital information is not stored in the communication and entertainment module 17 but, rather, is stored in a portable telecommunication device 22 (FIG. 2). In such case, the communication and entertainment module 17 is used for converting the analog or digital information into audible sound for the earpiece user. The communication and entertainment module 17 may contain at least one microphone, speaker, signal processor (similar to 13), and digital memory. In some embodiments, the communication and entertainment module 17 may apply at least one CODEC for encoding or decoding information. The communication and entertainment module may utilize non-audible forms of communication with the user, such as visual, physical, or mental (i.e., brainwaves or neural stimulation) communication with the user.

In some embodiments, an audible communicator is provided that is configured to communicate therapeutic sounds (e.g., music therapy, etc.) to a person in response to physiological or psychosocial stress. The audible communicator may be embodied in the communication and entertainment module 17 or may be a separate speaker. In some embodiments, light therapy may be provided to a person in response to physiological or psychosocial stress. In some embodiments, the communication and entertainment module 17 may be configured to communicate a treatment, therapy, and/or plan of action to the person upon detection of physiological and/or environmental concerns. For example, if it is detected that the person is being exposed to unhealthy doses of UV radiation, the communication and entertainment module 17 may audibly instruct the person to move away from the person's current location (e.g., move indoors, etc.). Mechanical vibrational therapy and electrical stimulation therapy are also examples of automated therapies that may be invoked by programs inside the monitoring device 10 in response to sensor readings from health 11 and/or environmental 12 sensors.

Like the other components of the wearable monitoring device 10 shown in FIG. 1, the components of the communication and entertainment module 17 are not necessarily located in the same physical vicinity. The microphone and speaker of the communication module 17, for example, may be located closer to a subject's mouth and ear respectively. Furthermore, the signal processor 13 can be composed of several components located throughout the earpiece module. It should be understood that the word “module” does not necessarily imply a unified physical location. Rather, “module” is used to imply a unified function.

Bluetooth® devices conventionally contain a communication module, such as communication module 17, for converting digital or analog information into audible sounds for the user. However, when combined with the health and environmental monitoring properties of a wearable monitoring device 10 according to embodiments of the present invention, the communication and entertainment module 17 can provide functionality. The wearable monitoring device 10 can serve as a biofeedback device. As a non-limiting example, if a user is in a polluted environment, such as air filled with VOCs, the communication module 17 may notify the user to move to a new environment. As another example, if one or more of the physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12 of the wearable monitoring device 10 pick up a high particulate density in the environment, with an elevation in core body temperature, and a change in voice pitch occurring simultaneously (or near-simultaneously) within a common timeframe, the communication module 17 may alert the user that he/she may be having an allergic response. As a further example, the user can use the communication and entertainment module 17 to execute biofeedback for willfully controlling blood pressure, breathing rate, body temperature, pulse rate, and the like. The communication module 17 may utilize audible or visible alerts if the user is meeting their physiological targets or exceeding safe physiological limits. Alerting a user by physical or electrical force, such as the sense of touch or tingling from an electric pulse or vibration, can also be utilized. Thus, although communication by audible means is often utilized, the communication module 17 can alert, signify, or communicate with the user through sound, light, electrical actuation, and physical actuation.

As a second example of this biofeedback method, basic vital signs collected by the physiological sensors 11 and processed by the signal processor 13 can be presented to the monitoring device user audibly, through the communication and entertainment module 17. For example, the user may be able to listen to his/her breathing rate, pulse rate, and the like. Additionally, an entertaining or aggravating sound or song can be used to alert the user to favorable or unfavorable personal health and environmental factors occurring in real-time. This technique may be applied towards education, such as positive or negative feedback for educational games, learning games, or games of deception (e.g., poker, etc.). FIG. 9 illustrates the display of physiological information and environmental information collected by a monitoring device 10 via a user's cell phone, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

A health and environmental monitoring system 20, according to embodiments of the present invention, that may incorporate wearable monitoring devices 10 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Other types of wearable monitoring devices may also be utilized in the health and environmental monitoring system 20. The wearable monitoring device 10 is utilized as a specific monitoring device 21 of the monitoring system 20, though other modules located at various other parts of the body can be used in conjunction with, or in place of, the wearable monitoring device 10. The terms “wearable monitoring device” and “sensor module” are used interchangeably herein in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention (i.e., monitoring device 10 of FIG. 1 and sensor module 21 of FIG. 2 are intended to be interchangeable). The health and environmental monitoring system 20 is composed of at least one sensor module 21 (e.g., wearable monitoring device 10) at least one portable telecommunication module 22, at least one transmission system 23, at least one user interface 24, at least one personal database 25, and at least one anonymous database 26.

The sensor module 21 can be composed of a primary module alone or a primary module and at least one secondary module. The primary and secondary modules can be located at any location of the body, but in some cases they can be located in a region at or near the ear. In some embodiments, a wearable monitoring device 10 serves as the primary module. In many cases, the secondary modules are not necessary. But in some cases, secondary modules may be located, for example, behind the ear (near the lymph nodes), at or near the earlobes (such as one or more earrings or ear clips), at the front of the ear (near the carotid artery), at the temples, along the neck, or other locations near the ear. For example, a relatively rich network of blood vessels lies between the anti tragus and acoustic meatus region of the ear, facilitating sensor placement between these regions. In a specific embodiment, a PPG sensor may be placed within these regions in a form-fitted enclosure for stabilization against motion artifacts. In some cases the secondary modules, as with the primary module, can be located inside the body. These wearable secondary modules can be connected with either a “hard” connection to the primary module (such as an electric cable) or a “soft” connection to the primary module (such as a wireless connection). In Bluetooth® protocol, each secondary module can be simultaneously in direct wireless communication with the primary module. Primary modules and secondary modules in the same location can promote quick-donning, ease-of-use, and comfortability for the end user. Users may not be prone to accept multiple modules at multiple locations of the body.

The wearable sensor module 21 communicates wirelessly with the portable telecommunication device 22, preferably in an open architecture configuration, such as Bluetooth® or ZigBee. The telecommunication device 22 can be any portable device, such as a cell phone (which includes a “smartphone”), PDA, laptop computer, Blackberry, another earpiece, or other portable, telemetric device. The portable telecommunication device 22 and the wearable sensor module 21 can telemetrically communicate both to and from each other. Though the main purpose of the portable telecommunication device is to transmit the local wireless signal from the sensor module 21 over longer distances unattainable by the transmitter 14 of the sensor module 21, the telecommunication device 22 can also serve as a method of personal communication and entertainment for the earpiece user.

In some embodiments, the telecommunication device 22 transmits data in only one direction or particular directions. For example, in one embodiment, the portable telecommunication device 22 can receive telemetric information from the sensor module 21 but cannot send out signals to a transmission system 23. The portable telecommunication device 22 may also contain an end-user graphical interface, such as a user interface 24 in the monitoring system 20, such that data from the wearable sensor module 21 can be stored, analyzed, summarized, and displayed on the portable telecommunication device 22. For example, charts relating health and environment, as well as real-time biofeedback and the like, can be displayed on a cell phone, media player, PDA, laptop, or other device. The telecommunication device 22 may also contain physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12 itself, such as sensors for blood pressure, pulse rate, air quality, pulse-oximetry, and the like. Additionally, the telecommunication device 22 can communicate with the wearable sensor module 21 to transfer commands, activate or deactivate sensors, communicate with the user, and the like.

The portable telecommunication device 22 sends/receives wireless information directly to/from a transmission system 23 for transmission to a database (such as personal database 25 and/or anonymous database 26) for storage, analysis, and retrieval of data. The style of transmission system may depend largely on the location of the database. For example, if the database is located in a local computer, the wireless information from the telecommunication device 22 can be sent directly to the local computer. This computer may be connected with the Internet, allowing access to the database from the web. However, the database is more typically located far away from the user and telecommunication module. In this case, the wireless signal from the telecommunication device 22 can be sent to a reception tower and routed through a base station. This information can then be sent to a database through the Internet. A variety of other transmission protocols can be applied for connection between the telecommunication device 22 and the databases 25 and 26.

The personal and anonymous databases 25, 26 represent databases that may or may not be located on the same computer. A difference between these two databases is not the physical location of the database but rather the type of information available on each database. For example, the anonymous database 26, containing aggregated health and environmental data from multiple indistinct monitoring device users, can be public and accessible through the Internet by various users. In contrast, the personal database 25 contains health and environmental data that is personalized for each monitoring device user, including personalized information such as name, birth date, address, and the like. Users can log-in to their personalized information in the personal database 25 through an interactive user interface 24 and compare this information with information from multiple users in the anonymous database 26 via a graphical user interface, etc. In some cases, the wearable sensor module 21 or portable telecommunication device 22 may additionally communicate information not directly related to health and environment, such as physical location, personal information, proximity to various locations or properties, etc., to either database. In some cases, this additional information may be sensed by the wearable sensor module 21 and/or by sensors and/or protocols integrated into portable communication device 22.

The user interface 24 can be a computer monitor, a cell phone monitor, a PDA monitor, a television, a projection monitor, a visual monitor on the wearable sensor module 21, or any method of visual display. (Audible methods and audio-visual methods can also be used for the user interface 24, as well as mechanical methods such as automated brail displays for the blind.) For example, the user may log-in to their personal database 25 through a computer user interface 24 and compare real-time personal health and environmental exposure data with that of other users on the monitoring system 20. In some cases, the data from other users may be anonymous statistics. In some cases, one or more users may have agreements to view the data of one or more other users, and in other cases, users may agree to share mutual personalized data through the Internet.

A specific embodiment of a graphical user interface 30 is presented in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows an example of how a computer monitor may appear to a user logging-in to their personal database 25 and comparing their own personal data with that of anonymous users in the same monitoring system 20. In this case, data from anonymous users is averaged into certain demographics; the choice of the demographics to be displayed can be selected by the user accessing the personalized database. In the graphical user interface 30 of FIG. 3, the user's personalized data, signified by a star, is compared with statistics from other users in an anonymous database 26. This allows the user to compare his/her health and environment with that of others in selected demographics. FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary user interface that a user can access to compare himself/herself to others, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Monitoring system 20 serves not only as a source of useful information from a medical standpoint, but also as a form of entertainment for curious users. It is important to note that health and environmental information from multiple subjects may be updated regularly. In some cases, the regular updates are real-time (or “near-real-time”) updates. Thus, information is always new and fresh with respect to daily changes in a group of subjects, and the plots of FIG. 3 are dynamic, changing in time with changing user health and/or environmental information.

The monitoring system 20 can be used in medicine for a variety of important functions. As one example, a doctor can monitor the health of patients through each patient's personalized database 25. If the wearable sensor module 21 contains a dosimeter, the doctor can even monitor the efficacy of prescribed medications, and the physiological response to medications, over time. This dosimetry approach is directly applicable to clinical studies of various treatments. For example, during a clinical trial, the wearable sensor module 21 can collect environmental data, drug dosimetry data, and physiological data from the earpiece user such that researchers can understand the epidemiology between drugs, genes, physiology, environment, and personal health.

Because of the high compliance of the wearable monitoring device 10, primarily due to the dual-modality as a health/environmental monitor and a personal communication/entertainment device, users are prone to wear this device throughout clinical trials, providing more valuable information for drug discovery and the pharmaceuticals market.

As a further example, the health and environmental monitoring system 20 can be used by dieticians to track the caloric intake, health, and physical activity of dieters. Similarly, the monitoring system 20 can be used by athletic trainers to monitor the diet, physical activity, health, and environment of athletes. In many cases professionals are not necessary, and the user can monitor his/her own diet, activity, athletic performance, etc. through the monitoring system without professionals, parents, guardians, or friends monitoring their personal statistics.

In a specific example of the monitoring system 20, a test subject in a clinical trial for a new treatment, such as a new drug, physical therapy, medical device, or the like, is wearing at least one monitoring device 10, 21. The subject's health and environment are monitored in real-time, and this data is stored on the wearable sensor module 21, the portable telecommunication device 22, the personal database 25, and/or the anonymous database 26. By accessing the stored data, researchers managing the clinical trial can then compare the statistics from multiple users to make correlations between user environment, health, and the effectiveness of treatment.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of monitoring one or more subjects includes collecting physiological and/or environmental information from a monitoring device 10, 21 associated with each respective subject, storing the collected physiological and/or environmental information at a remote storage device, and comparing the stored physiological and/or environmental information with benchmark physiological and/or environmental information to identify at least one behavioral response of the one or more subjects. As described above, each monitoring device includes at least one physiological sensor and/or environmental sensor. Exemplary behavioral responses include behavioral responses to a product and/or service, behavioral responses to product and/or service marketing, behavioral responses to medical treatment, and behavioral responses to a drug.

It should be noted that algorithms for processing personal health and environmental data, diagnosing medical conditions, assessing health states, and the like do not need to be limited to the illustrated monitoring system 20. Various algorithms can also be integrated into the wearable sensor module 10, 21 or telecommunication device 22 according to embodiments of the present invention. A data storage component in at least one of these units allows processed signal data to be stored, analyzed, and manipulated to provide new knowledge to the user. This storage component can be any solid-state storage device, such as flash memory, random-access memory (RAM), magnetic storage, or the like. For example, a wearable sensor module 10, 21 can be programmed to monitor certain habits, such as nail-biting. In this non-limiting example, the physiological sensors 11 may monitor internal sounds, and an algorithm can be implemented to monitor signatures of nail-biting sounds in real-time. If the habit is identified by the algorithm, the communication module 17 may instantly warn the user that the habit is occurring. Alternatively, the algorithm may count the number of times a day the habit occurred, monitor physiological and psychological stress indicators during each occurrence, log each time when the habit occurred, and store environmental data associated with the habit. This stored data can be accessed at a later time, allowing the user to determine what environmental factors cause the physiological or psychological stress associated with nail-biting. As this example shows, these algorithms can take advantage of both physiological sensor data and environmental sensor data.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of supporting interpersonal relationships includes collecting physiological and/or environmental information from a monitoring device associated with a person when the person is in the presence of another person, determining a stress level of the person using the collected physiological and/or environmental information, and displaying the stress level to the person (or to others). As described above, the monitoring device 10, 21 includes at least one physiological sensor 11 and/or environmental sensor 12, wherein each physiological sensor 11 is configured to detect and/or measure physiological information from the person, and wherein each environmental sensor 12 is configured to detect and/or measure environmental conditions in a vicinity of the person. The collected physiological and/or environmental information includes indicators associated with stress experienced by the person.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, physiological and/or environmental information collected from the person over a period of time can be stored and subsequently analyzed. For example, a stress level of the person over a period of time can be determined using the stored information, and can be displayed to the person (or to other persons). FIG. 11 illustrates the display of stress over time for a user, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, physiological and/or environmental information collected from a person can be analyzed to identify a source of stress to the person, and one or more solutions for reducing stress can be recommended to the first person, for example via the monitoring device 10 (or in other ways).

A data storage component may include various algorithms, without limitation. In some embodiments, at least one algorithm is configured to focus processing resources on the extraction of physiological and/or environmental information from the various environmental and/or physiological sensors. Algorithms may be modified and/or uploaded wirelessly via a transmitter (e.g., receiver/transmitter 14 of the wearable monitoring device 10, 21).

The biofeedback functionality of the telemetric wearable monitoring device 10, 21 can be applied towards various gaming applications. For example, one or more subjects can connect their wearable monitoring devices 10 to one or more gaming devices wirelessly through the open architecture network provided by Bluetooth®, ZigBee, or other such networks. This allows personal health and environmental information to be transferred wirelessly between the wearable monitoring device 10, 21 and a gaming device. As subjects play a game, various personal health and environmental feedback can be an active component of the game. In a non-limiting embodiment, two users playing a dancing game, such as Dance Dance Revolution, can monitor their vital signs while competing in a dancing competition. In some cases, users having healthier vital signs, showing improved athletic performance, will get extra points (“Vital Points”). In another specific example, this personal health and environmental information can be sent telemetrically to a gaming device to make entertaining predictions about one or more users. Namely, the gaming device may predict someone's life expectancy, love-life, future occupation, capacity for wealth, and the like. These predictions can be true predictions, purely entertaining predictions, or a mixture of both. Sensors measuring external stressors (such as outside noise, lighting conditions, ozone levels, etc.) and sensors measuring internal stresses (such as muscle tension, breathing rate, pulse rate, etc.) integrated into the wearable monitoring device 10 can be used to facilitate predictions by the gaming device. For example, the information from the sensors 11, 12 can be recorded from one or more subjects wearing a sensor module 21 during a series of questions or tasks, and the information can be sent telemetrically to a gaming device. An algorithm processed in the gaming device can then generate an entertaining assessment from the information. This game can be in the form of a video game, with a graphical user interface 24, or it can be a game “in person” through an entertainer. Other games can involve competitions between multiple wearable monitor users for health-related purposes, such as online dieting competitions, fitness competitions, activity competitions, or the like. Combining the telemetric wearable monitoring device 10, 21 with gaming, according to embodiments of the present invention, provides seamless interaction between health and environmental monitoring and the game, through a comfortable telemetric module. Other sensor modules 10, 21 located at various parts of the body can also be used.

An additional non-limiting embodiment of the biofeedback functionality of a wearable sensor module 10, 21, according to some embodiments of the present invention, include monitoring psychological and physiological stress (such as monitoring stress indicators) during a poker game. These stress indicators can be breathing rate, muscle tension, neurological activity, brain wave intensity and activity, core body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, galvanometric response, and the like. Users may, for example, use the wearable sensor module 10, 21 to record or display their psychological and physiological stress during a poker game in real-time. This information can be stored or displayed on a portable telecommunication device 22 or sent wirelessly to other parts of the monitoring system 20. The user can use this biofeedback to adjust their psychological and physiological stress (or stress indicators) through force of will. This biofeedback process allows earpiece users to self-train themselves to project a certain “poker face,” such as a stoic cold look, a calm cool look, or another preferred look. Additionally, external stressors, such as light intensity and color, external sounds, and ambient temperature, can be sensed, digitized, and transmitted by the wearable monitoring device 10 to a telecommunication device (for storage), providing the user with important information about how the external environment may be affecting their stress response and, hence, poker game. In some games, the stress indicators may be displayed for outside viewers (who are not part of the poker game) as a form of entertainment when watching a group of poker players (each having earpiece modules 21) in a casino, television, or through the Internet.

Physiological and/or environmental information collected from sensors 11, 12 in a wearable module 10, 21 may be corrupted by the motion artifacts of a subject. As a specific example, when measuring pulse rate in a subject via photoplethysmography (PPG) while the subject is walking, optical scatter associated with footstep-related skin vibrations may be misinterpreted as coming from a pulse. This problem can be especially difficult where footstep rates are on the order of normal human pulse rates. By measuring body motion in real-time via one or more accelerometers inside the wearable monitor 10, 21, sampled pulse rate data can be processed to subtract, reduce, or eliminate signals associated with footsteps. In some cases, the processor 13 may simply send a command to ignore the sampling and/or logging of pulse rate when body motion is detected. In this way, average pulse rate estimate is not convoluted with footstep information. In other cases, the processor 13 may correct for body motion in real time through dynamic feedback from the aforementioned accelerometer. A variety of other body motion sensors, such as acoustic sensors for monitoring footstep sounds and MEMS motion sensors, can also be used to monitor footsteps and correct physiological and/or environmental data for motion artifacts. An important innovation afforded by the databases 25, 26 is that motion artifacts in the data can be corrected by applying algorithms for reviewing the physiological and/or environmental history of each subject, identifying corruptions associated with motion artifacts, and extracting physiological and/or environmental information from corrupted data.

Information collected from one or more subjects wearing a sensor module 10, 21 in the monitoring system 20, can be integrated into a game for a novel gaming experience. For example, information collected from health and environmental monitors worn by a user throughout the day can be used to build a gaming character based on that user. With a group of subjects wearing such monitors throughout the day, a novel gaming environment based on a plurality of real life characters can be generated. Because information from each subject is updated on a regular basis with the monitoring system 20, information about characters can always be fresh and dynamic, changing as the health and environment of each subject changes. Information from a group of subjects sharing a common quality can be summarized into a single character or group of characters based on the aggregated dynamic changes in the health and/or environment within the representative group.

The biofeedback approach is also directly relevant to personal education as a learning tool. For example, monitoring the physiological and psychological response to learning can be used to help users understand if they are learning efficiently. For example, in the course of reading, the wearable sensor module 10, 21 can monitor alertness through galvanometric, brainwave, or vital sign monitoring. The user can then use this information to understand what reading methods or materials are stimulating and which are not stimulating to the earpiece user.

Biofeedback methods, according to embodiments of the present invention can be used as self-training tools for improving performance in public speaking, athletic activity, teaching, and other personal and job-related activities.

A health and environmental monitoring system 20, according to some embodiments of the present invention, enables a variety of additional business methods for exploiting user information collected by the system 20. For example, users can be charged a fee for downloading or viewing data from the personal and/or anonymous databases 25, 26. Alternatively, users may be allowed free access but may be required to register online, providing personal information with no restrictions on use, for the right to view information from the databases. In turn, this personal information can be traded or sold by the database owner(s). This information can provide valuable marketing information for various companies and government interests. The health and environmental data from the databases 25, 26 can be of great value itself, and this data can be traded or sold to others, such as marketing groups, manufacturers, service providers, government organizations, and the like. A web page or web pages associated with a personal and anonymous database 25, 26 may be subject to targeted advertising. For example, if a user shows a pattern of high blood pressure on a personal database 25, a company may target blood pressure treatment advertisements on the user interface 24 (i.e., web page) while the user is logged-in to the personal database through the user interface 24. For example, because various health and environmental statistics of subjects in the monitoring system 20 will be available on the database, this information can be used to provide a targeted advertising platform for various manufacturers. In this case, a database manager can sell information to others for targeted advertising linked to a user's personal statistics. In some cases, a database owner does not need to sell the statistics in order to sell the targeted advertising medium. As a specific example, a company can provide a database owner with statistics of interest for targeted advertising. For example, the company may request advertising a weight-loss drug to anonymous users having a poor diet, high caloric intake, and/or increasing weight. A database manager can then charge the company a fee for distributing these advertisements to the targeted users as they are logged-in to the database website(s). In this way, the users remain anonymous to the company. Because targeted advertisements can be such a lucrative market, income from these sources may eliminate the need for charging users a fee for logging-in to the databases 25, 26.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a method of delivering targeted advertising to a person includes collecting physiological and/or environmental information from the person, selecting an advertisement for delivery to the person based upon the collected physiological and/or environmental information, and delivering the selected advertisement to the person. Collecting information includes receiving physiological and/or environmental information from a monitoring device associated with the person. Selecting an advertisement includes analyzing the received physiological and/or environmental information to identify a physiological condition of the person and/or environmental condition in a vicinity of the person, and selecting an advertisement for a product or service related to an identified physiological and/or environmental condition. Delivery of a selected advertisement can be via any of many different channels including, but not limited to, email, postal mail, television, radio, newspaper, magazine, the internet, and outdoor advertising.

There are many ways to profit from a health and environmental monitoring system 20, according to embodiments of the present invention. For example, information from subjects can be used to target online advertisements or links to a particular subject or group of subjects, where these advertisements or links are tailored to information collected from each subject in the monitoring system 20 through sensor modules 10, 21. In some cases, a targeted online link, tailored to a subject or group of subjects, may not necessarily constitute an advertisement but rather a targeted link corresponding to a targeted good or service. Additionally, advertisements need not be limited to online advertisements. The collected information can be used for targeted mailings, television commercials, newspaper/magazine ads, billboards, and the like.

A wearable sensor module 10, 21 and health and environmental monitoring system 20 can enable a variety of research techniques. For example, a plurality of monitoring devices 10, 21 worn by users can be used in marketing research to study the physiological and psychological response of test subjects to various marketing techniques. This technique solves a major problem in marketing research: deciphering objective responses in the midst of human subjectivity. This is because the physiological and psychological response of the monitoring device 10, 21 user largely represents objective, unfiltered information. For example, users that are entertained by a pilot TV program would have difficulty hiding innate vital signs in response to the program. The data generated by the wearable sensor module 10, 21 during market research can be transmitted through any component of the telemetric monitoring system 20 and used by marketing researchers to improve a product, service, or method.

Another method provided by the monitoring system 20 is to charge users of the monitoring system for usage and service (such as compilation service). For example, a clinical trial company may pay a fee for accessing the databases 25, 26 of their test subjects during medical research. In this case, these companies may buy modules 10, 21 and pay for the service, or the modules 10, 21 may be provided free to these companies, as the database service fee can provide a suitable income itself. Similarly, doctors may pay for this service to monitor patients; fire fighters and first responders may pay for this service to monitor personnel in hazardous environments; and athletic trainers may pay for this service to monitor athletes. Also, users can pay for the database service directly themselves. Because these databases 25, 26 are dynamic, updated regularly via a wearable sensor module 10, 21 of each user, with data changing with time for individual users and users en mass, these databases can maintain a long-term value. In other words, there may always be new information on the databases 25, 26.

Another embodiment of the present invention involves methods of combining information from various sensors 11, 12 into a meaningful real-time personal health and environmental exposure assessment in a recording device. The meaningful assessment is generated by algorithms that can be executed in the sensor module 10, 21, in the portable telecommunication device 22, or through various other electronic devices and media within the monitoring system 20. In one embodiment, raw or preprocessed data from the sensor module 10, 21 is transmitted wirelessly to the telecommunication device 22, and this device executes various algorithms to convert the raw sensor data (from one or more sensors) into a meaningful assessment for the user. For example, a blood pressure assessment may be processed from stored raw data on personal database 25 and/or anonymous database 26 collected from pulse rate sensors, pulse volume sensors, and blood flow sensors in the wearable sensor module 10, 21. In another embodiment these algorithms are executed within the sensor module 10, 21 itself, without the need for processing in the telecommunication device 22, through a processor 13 inside the module 10, 21. The output from these algorithms can be viewed as charts, graphs, figures, photos, or other formats for the user to view and analyze. Preferably, these formats display various health factors over time with respect to a particular environment, with health factor intensity on the dependent axis and time or environmental factor intensity on the independent axis. However, virtually any relationship between the physiological data and environmental data can be processed by an algorithm, and these relationships can be quantitative, qualitative, or a combination of both.

One innovation involves applying the wearable sensor module 10, 21 towards a physical or mental health assessment method. An algorithm may combine data from health and environmental sensors 11, 12 towards generating a personal overall health assessment for the user, conditional to a particular environment. For example breathing rate, pulse rate, and core body temperature can be compared with ozone density in the air for generating an ozone-dependent personal health assessment. In another specific example of this innovation, information from the sensors 11, 12 can be used to monitor overall “mood” of a user in a particular environment. More particularly, algorithmic processing and analyzing of data from sensors for core body temperature, heart rate, physical activity, and lighting condition can provide a personal assessment of overall mood conditional on external lighting conditions.

Mood sensing in the wireless sensing monitoring system 20 can be implemented in a variety of novel ways. A case example is that of a girl wearing a sensor module 10, 21, in the form factor of a Bluetooth® headset (earpiece), embedded with sensors and a processor for monitoring overall mood. As the girl's mood changes, the headset monitoring device 10, 21 senses, processes, and transmits mood to portable communication device 22, such as a cell phone. The cell phone may then send a text message (or other type of communication), manually or automatically via a stored program, to a boyfriend, notifying the boyfriend of a change in mood. This allows the boyfriend to respond more rapidly and efficiently to mood changes. Similarly, aggregated mood data from a variety of users wearing similar or identical monitors can be used to track mood in a population study for one or more groups of people.

An application of the health and environmental monitoring system 20 is supporting interpersonal relationships between individuals and/or groups of individuals. For example, subjects wearing a monitoring device 10, 21 can track stress rates when interacting with certain other subjects. As a more specific example, a subject wearing a monitoring device 10, 21, containing physiological and/or environmental sensors 11, 12 for tracking indicators associated with stress, can track their stress level in the presence of their spouse, children, coworkers, etc. through a user interface 24. As the subject interacts throughout the day, the wearable monitoring device 10, 21 may communicate stress updates through the wireless monitoring system 20 for storage in databases 25 and/or 26. Through the view screen of a computer, the user can then track a history of stress levels while interacting with certain individuals. The correlation between stress level and particular individuals may be decided based on the time of day or a time mark selected by the subject wearing the monitor 10, 21. In some cases, the monitor 10, 21 may be programmed to recognize other individuals audibly and/or visually or through a certain environment common to other individuals through sensors 11, 12 integrated into the monitor 10, 21, and this correlation may then be transmitted wirelessly to the databases 25 and/or 26 for tracking stress with respect to a particular interpersonal relationship. The stress record stored in the databases can then be used by professionals or the individuals themselves to uncover the sources of stress and recommend solutions or therapies for reducing stress in an interpersonal relationship. In some cases, the correlation with the stress of a subject and the subject's environment may be all that is of interest, in which case detecting other individuals is not necessary.

Applying sensor information from the sensor monitoring system 20 towards predictions for individual subjects and groups of subjects is another embodiment of the present invention. Health and/or environmental information from individuals in the monitoring system can be used to predict an individual's behavior, health, the onset of a health condition, etc. Collectively, information from multiple subjects in the monitoring system 20 can be used to predict the outbreak of a disease, environmental situation, traffic conditions, mass behavior (such as market behavior), and the like. As a specific example, sensors for monitoring physiological and/or environmental parameters associated with influenza may monitor changes in core body temperature, voice pitch changes, pulse rate changes, etc. in a subject, or group of subjects, wearing a module 10, 21, and this information may be processed into a prediction of the onset of influenza for the subject or group of subjects. Indeed, the onset of a mass outbreak can be predicted. A variety of predictive techniques can be used to predict behavior based on user information from the monitoring system 20. Predictions can be made by processing data stored in the databases 25, 26 with predictive algorithms, such as neural network-based programs and other computer programs. In some cases, predictions can be made simply by processing trends through human analysis, computer analysis, or a combination of both. In some cases, predictions may be processed by the internal processor 13 inside the wearable monitoring device 10, 21.

Information from the health and environmental monitoring system 20 can be used to track, direct, and predict the marketing, advertising, distribution, and sales of goods or services tailored towards one or more subjects or groups in the monitoring system. As an example, trends in high stress for a subject wearing a monitor 10, 21 can be processed into information relating the specific stress-related product needs, such as medications, spas, or therapies, tailored for that specific subject. Similarly, trends in poor health may communicate corrective action to the user, through the aforementioned wireless protocol, or through medical professionals to the user. In some cases, warnings may be communicated to first responders to assist a subject. Information from groups of individuals in the monitoring system 20 may be used to track, direct, and predict the marketing, advertising, distribution, and sales of goods or services tailored towards a group or region.

Although many examples herein relate to generating profiles for individuals or groups wearing monitors 10, 21 in a monitoring system 20, it should be understood that embodiments of the present invention have broad applicability to users not wearing monitors 10, 21. Profiles can be generated for individuals not wearing monitors 10, 21 based on similarities with one or more others who do wear monitors 10, 21. Namely, individuals may be targeted for advertisements, marketing, distribution, and sales for goods and services based on a relationship with subjects wearing monitors 10, 21. For example, individuals matching the demographics of a subject or group of subjects being monitored in the monitoring system 20 may received targeted ads, links, marketing, goods/services, and the like. Additionally, users viewing information from the anonymous database 26 may be subject to targeted or untargeted marketing and sales aspects, regardless of whether or not they wear a monitoring device 10, 21.

The monitoring system 20 does not require subjects to wear monitors 10, 21 continuously to be functional. Subjects wearing modules 10, 21 for merely a few minutes a day can provide useful information for the monitoring system 20 and for the individuals themselves.

An earpiece/headset form factor for a wearable monitoring device 10, 21 can be utilized for monitoring or predicting traffic-related conditions for automobiles and other vehicles. As a specific example, a wearable earpiece module 10, 21, containing physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12, can provide information about the stress of a subject while driving, as well as the speed of the subject, environmental conditions surrounding the subject, alertness of the subject, and the like. This can be accomplished by monitoring heart rate, breathing rate, core body temperature, acceleration, the weather conditions, air quality, and the like with sensors 11, 12. Information from multiple subjects can be used to track and study the stress of a group of individuals with certain traffic-related conditions. Additionally, predictions about traffic jams, road accidents, traffic flow can be estimated based on processed information stored in the remote databases 25, 26. This information can also be used to assist infrastructure decisions that will reduce the stress of drivers, improve traffic flow, and prevent automotive accidents. In some cases, this information may be used in studies to understand the interaction between stress, road conditions, environment, and the like.

In some embodiments, information from sensors in a sensor monitoring system 20 can be used to generate real-time maps related to physiological and/or environmental conditions of groups of subjects over a geographical landscape. For example, a real-time health/stress map (see, for example, FIG. 12) or real-time air quality map can be generated through a user interface 24 for informational or entertainment value to one or more viewers.

Aggregated data stored in the anonymous database 26 can be processed into a map by correlating the location of each subject with physiological and environmental data measured by sensors 11, 12 integrated into a wearable monitor 10, 21 worn by each subject. Location information can be provided through the existing cellular infrastructure, through the triangulation of wireless signals related to each subject, or through location sensors integrated into the monitor 10, 21 or portable telecommunication device 22 (such as GPS sensors), or the like. These maps can be dynamic and real-time based on wireless updates from each subject. These maps can be local, regional, state-wide, national, world-wide, and the like.

Earpiece monitoring devices 10, 21 described herein need not be embodied within headsets only. For example, an wearable earpiece module 10, 21 according to embodiments of the present invention can be a hearing aid, an earplug, an entertaining speaker, stereo headphones or earbuds, the earpiece for an IPOD®, Walkman®, or other entertainment unit, a commercial headset for a phone operator, an earring, a gaming interface, or the like. A wearable earpiece module 10, 21 covers the broad realm of earpieces, ear jewelry, and ear apparatuses used by persons for entertainment, hearing, or other purposes both inside and outside of health and environmental monitoring.

Moreover, two earpiece modules 10, 21 may be utilized, according to some embodiments of the present invention; one for each ear of a person. In some cases, dual-ear analysis can be performed with a single headset having dual earpieces. Dual-ear analysis with two earpiece modules can be used, for example, to compare the core temperature of each tympanic membrane in order to gauge brain activity comparing each brain hemisphere. In another case, acoustical energy, including ultrasonic energy, can be passed from one earpiece module to the other, with acoustic absorption and reflection being used to gauge various physiological states. For example, this technique can be used to gauge hydration level in the head or brain by estimating the acoustical energy absorption rate and sound velocity through the head of the user.

A variety of form factors for wearable monitoring devices 10, 21 may be used in the present invention. The form-factor of a wrist-watch, belt, article of clothing, necklace, ring, body piercing, bandage, electrode, headband, glasses or sunglasses, cast (i.e., for broken bones), tooth filling, etc. are but a few examples. A variety of earpiece styles, shapes, and architectures can be used for the case of where a wearable monitoring device 10, 21 is an earpiece module, according to embodiments of the present invention. A non-limiting embodiment of an earpiece module 40 that can serve the function of a monitoring device 10, 21 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The illustrated earpiece 40 fits over the ear of a person and is held in place by an ear support 41 (also called the “earpiece attachment component” 15, FIG. 1). The illustrated earpiece module 40 also includes an earpiece body 42, an earbud 43, and an optional earlobe clip 44. The earpiece 40 may also contain an adjustable mouthpiece 52 (FIG. 5B) and/or a pinna cover 53 (FIGS. 5A-5B) described below. The earpiece 40 connects with the ear canal of a person through an earbud 43 located on the backside 45 of the earpiece 40. The earbud 43 transmits sound to the inner ear and eardrum. Health and environmental sensors 11, 12 are integrated primarily within or along the earpiece body 42, including the earpiece backside 45. However, an earlobe clip 44 can contain various health and environmental sensors 11, 12 as well. In some cases, health and environmental sensors 11, 12 can be integrated within or along the ear support 41, the adjustable mouthpiece 52, the earbud 43, or the pinna cover 53. Raw or processed data 46 from these sensors can be wirelessly transferred to a recording device or a portable telecommunication device 22 (FIG. 2). In some embodiments of the present invention, a recording device can be located within or about the earpiece 40 itself. In some cases, this recording device is flash memory or other digitized memory storage. The types of health and environmental factors which may be monitored have been previously described above for the wearable monitoring device 10, 21.

It should be understood that the earpiece body 42 can be any shape and size suitable for wear around or near the ear. In some cases, the earpiece body and earpiece fitting can be one and the same structure, such that the earpiece body-fitting is a small fitting inside the ear. In many cases, it is desirable to seal off or partially seal off the ear canal so as to prevent sounds from entering or leaving the ear such that an auscultatory signal can more easily be extracted from the ear canal through devices (such as microphones) in the earpiece body-fitting.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the exemplary earpiece 40 of FIG. 4. Other earpiece configurations are also capable of integrating health and environmental sensors for portable, noninvasive, real-time health monitoring according to embodiments of the present invention. For example, the earlobe clip 44 can be modified to reach other surfaces along or near a person's ear, head, neck, or face to accommodate electrical or optical sensing. Similarly, more than one clip 44 may be integrated into the earpiece. Sensors 11, 12 can be integrated into the earbud 43. In such embodiments, the sensors 11, 12 may be integrated into a module in the earbud 43. Environmental sensors 12 are preferably located on the outside of the earpiece through a region on the earpiece frontside. This allows access to air in the vicinity of the earpiece user. However, environmental sensors 12 can be located anywhere along the earpiece module 40.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate an embodiment of an earpiece module 50, that can be used as a monitoring device 10, 21, with an adjustable mouthpiece 52 and a pinna cover 53. The earpiece 50 contains a region where an adjustable mouthpiece 52 can be swiveled, extended, pulled, extracted, flipped, or ejected towards the mouth. A microphone at the end of the mouthpiece 52 can be used to improve personal communication through the earpiece 50. Sensors integrated into the mouthpiece 52 can be used to monitor, for example, exhaled breath for respirometry and inhalation/exhalation monitoring. Carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, and other respired gases and vapors can be monitored, providing an overall assessment of health. Additionally, VOC's and other vapors exhaled by the breath can be monitored for diagnosing various disease states, such as diabetes, obesity, diet, metabolism, cancer, hepatic or renal health, organ functioning, alcoholism, halitosis, drug addiction, lung inflammation, voice analysis, voice distinction, and the like. The mouthpiece 52 is in a retracted or stored position in FIG. 5A and is in an extended or operative position in FIG. 5B.

Another multifunctional earpiece module 60 that can be used as a monitoring device 10, 21, according to embodiments of the present invention, is illustrated in FIG. 6. The illustrated earpiece module 60 includes the embodiments described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B, such as a pinna cover 62, an ear support 63, a mouthpiece 64, an earpiece body 65, and the like. Additionally, the earpiece module 60 may contain an extension 66 with sensors for monitoring jaw motion, arterial blood flow near the neck, or other physiological and environmental factors near the jaw and neck region.

The person illustrated in FIG. 6 is also wearing an earring monitor 67 that can be used as a monitoring device 10, 21 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Because at least one portion of an earring may penetrate the skin, earring monitor 67 may contain sensors and telemetric circuitry that provide access to various blood analytes through iontophoresis and electrochemical sensing that may not be easily accessible by the other portions of the earpiece module 60. Additionally, the earring 67 may provide a good electrical contact for ECG or skin conductivity.

Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to earpiece modules. Other types of modules may be utilized that attach to other portions of a person's body. For example, a temple module 70 having a similar design as the earpiece module design 10 can also be employed, as illustrated in FIG. 7. A temple module 70 has the benefit of being close to physiological areas associated with stress, intracranial pressure, brain activity, and migraines. Additionally, a temple module can monitor physiological activity associated with the onset of a stroke, such as increased or decreased blood flow and/or oxygen flow to the brain.

FIG. 8 illustrates a monitoring device 10, 21, according to some embodiments of the present invention, that is integrated into a telemetric Bluetooth® module. Though a Bluetooth® module is illustrated, it should be understood that other telemetric modules can be used. Telemetric modules according to some embodiments of the present invention may operate in open architecture protocols, allowing multiple telemetric devices to communicate with each other. A Bluetooth® module (including the monitoring device) according to some embodiments of the present invention is integrated into a wearable earpiece module (i.e., monitoring device 10, 21 described above). The monitoring device illustrated in FIG. 8 contains one or more sensors, and is mounted onto a Bluetooth® module. In one embodiment, the sensor module is directly soldered onto the Bluetooth® module. In another embodiment, the sensor module is elevated from the Bluetooth® module with spacers, and a cable or electrical wires connect between the sensor module and the Bluetooth® module. The module may be elevated in embodiments where the sensors need to be exposed to the environment. For example, the sensors may need to be exposed through the frontside region of an earpiece module, and the Bluetooth® module may fit too deeply into the earpiece module to provide sensor access to the external environment. In some cases, contact leads or vias may connect between the sensor module and an extended sensor or an additional sensor module. This allows the extended sensor or sensor module to be flexibly mounted anywhere inside, along, outside, or about the wearable sensor module 10, 21. Extended sensors can be especially useful for 4-point galvanometric monitoring of skin conductance, pulse oximetry, and volatile organic compound monitoring.

Pulse oximetry is a standard noninvasive technique of estimating blood gas levels. Pulse oximeters typically employ 2 or more optical wavelengths to estimate the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated blood. Similarly, various types of hemoglobin, such as methemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin can be differentiated by measuring and comparing the optical absorption at key red and near-infrared wavelengths. Additional wavelengths can be incorporated and/or replace conventional wavelengths. For example, by adding additional visible and infrared wavelengths, myoglobin, methemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, bilirubin, SpCO2, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) can be estimated and/or monitored in real-time in addition to the conventional pulse oximetry SpO2 measurement.

Blood hydration can also be monitored optically, as water selectively absorbs optical wavelengths in the mid-IR and blue-UV ranges, whereas water can be more transparent to the blue-green wavelengths. Thus, the same optical emitter/detector configuration used in earpiece pulse oximetry can be employed for hydration monitoring. However, mid-IR or blue optical emitters and detectors may be required. Additionally, monitoring the ratio of blue-green to other transmitted or reflected wavelengths may aid the real-time assessment of blood hydration levels. Blood hydration can also be monitored by measuring changes in capacitance, resistance, or inductance along the ear in response to varying water content in the skin tissues or blood. Similarly, hydration can be estimated by monitoring ions extracted via iontophoresis across the skin. Additionally, measuring the return velocity of reflected sound (including ultrasound) entering the head can be used to gauge hydration. These hydration sensors can be mounted anywhere within or along an earpiece or other monitoring device 10, 21. It should be noted that other hydration sensors can also be incorporated into a module.

A variety of techniques can be used for monitoring blood metabolites via an earpiece module, such as wearable monitoring device 10, 21. For example, glucose can be monitored via iontophoresis at the surface of the skin combined with enzyme detection. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) can be monitored by monitoring UV fluorescence in blood (through the skin) or by monitoring visible and mid-IR light absorption using the pulse oximetry approach described above. Various ions such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, nickel, and other metal ions, can be monitored via selective electrodes in an earpiece module following iontophoresis through the skin.

Cardiopulmonary functioning can be evaluated by monitoring blood pressure, pulse, cardiac output, and blood gas levels via earpiece modules, and other monitoring apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Pulse rate and intensity can be monitored through pulse oximetry (described above) as well as by sensing an increase in oxygenated blood with time. Pulse rate and blood flow may also be assessed through impedance measurements via galvanometry near a blood vessel. Additionally, pulse rate and blood flow may be assessed through a fast-response thermal energy sensor, such as a pyroelectric sensor. Because moving blood may temporarily increase or decrease the localized temperature near a blood vessel, a pyroelectric sensor will generate an electrical signal that is proportional to the total blood flow in time.

Blood pressure can be monitored along an earlobe, for example. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a digital blood pressure meter is integrated into an earpiece module, such as earpiece 40 of FIG. 4. A compact clip containing actuators and sonic and pressure transducers, can be placed along the earlobe, and systolic and diastolic pressure can be measured by monitoring the pressure at which the well-known Korotkoff sound is first heard (systolic), then disappears (diastolic). This technique can also be used to monitor intra-cranial pressure and other internal pressures. Blood pressure may also be measured by comparing the time between pulses at different regions of the body. For example, sensors for monitoring pulse rate and blood volume can be located in front of the ear and behind the ear or at the earlobe, and the time between the detection of each pulse from each sensor, as well as the volume of blood passed, can be processed by a signal processor 13 into an indication of blood pressure.

Electrodes within or about an earpiece can also be utilized to monitor blood gases diffused through the skin, giving an indication of blood gas metabolism. For example, a compact Severinghaus electrode can be incorporated within an earpiece module for the real-time monitoring of CO2 levels in the blood, for example, through an earlobe connector, a sensor region of an earpiece fitting, or along or about an ear support. These Severinghaus-type electrodes can also be used to monitor other blood gases besides CO2, such as oxygen and nitrogen.

Organ function monitoring includes monitoring, for example, the liver, kidneys, pancreas, skin, and other vital or important organs. Liver quality can be monitored noninvasively by monitoring optical absorption and reflection at various optical wavelengths. For example, optical reflection from white LEDs or selected visible-wavelength LEDs can be used to monitor bilirubin levels in the skin and blood, for a real-time assessment of liver health.

Monitoring neurological functioning can be accomplished via electrodes placed at the ear, near the ear, or along another surface of the body. When such electrodes are placed along the forehead, this process is described as electroencephalography, and the resulting data is called an electroencephalogram (EEG). These electrodes can be either integrated into an earpiece module or connected to an earpiece module, according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, an earlobe clip (e.g., 44, FIG. 4) can be modified to conform with EEG electrodes or other electrodes for measuring brain waves or neurological activity. For monitoring neurological functioning, a temple earpiece (e.g., 70, FIG. 7) may also be used. Electrodes may be positioned in a temple earpiece region near the temples of a user for direct contact with the skin. In some embodiments, direct contact is not necessary, and the neurological functioning can be monitored capacitively, inductively, electromagnetically, or a combination of these approaches. In some embodiments, brain waves may couple with low frequency acoustical sensors integrated into an earpiece module.

A person's body motion and head position can be monitored by integrating a motion sensor into an earpiece module (e.g., 40, FIG. 4, etc.). Two such compact motion sensors include gyroscopes and accelerometers, typically mechanical or optical in origin. In some embodiments, an accelerometer may be composed of one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. In some embodiments, an accelerometer can measure acceleration or position in 2 or more axes. When the head is moved, a motion sensor detects the displaced motion from the origin. A head position monitor can be used to sense convulsions or seizures and relay this information wirelessly to a recording device. Similarly, head position monitoring may serve as a feedback mechanism for exercise and athletic training were head positioning with respect to the body is important. Additionally, the head position monitoring can be used to monitor when someone has fallen down or is not moving.

Body temperature, including core and skin temperature, can be monitored in real-time by integrating compact infrared sensors into an earpiece module (e.g., 40, FIG. 4, etc.), according to some embodiments of the present invention. Infrared sensors are generally composed of thermoelectric/pyroelectric materials or semiconductor devices, such as photodiodes or photoconductors. Thermistors, thermocouples, and other temperature-dependent transducers can also be incorporated for monitoring body temperature. These sensors can be very compact and thus can be integrated throughout an earpiece module. In some embodiments, these sensors may be mounted along the backside of an earpiece body, as illustrated in FIG. 4, where the earpiece connects with the ear canal. Temperature sensors aimed at the tympanic membrane may be more accurate than sensors aimed in other directions.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a pedometer can be integrated into an earpiece module to measure the number of steps walked during a day. Pedometers that can be integrated into an earpiece module include, but are not limited to, mechanical pedometers (usually implementing a metallic ball or spring), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pedometers, inertial sensor pedometers, accelerometer-based pedometers, accelerometry, gyroscopic pedometers, and the like.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a pedometer for an earpiece module employs an acoustic sensor for monitoring the characteristic sounds of footsteps channeled along the ear canal. For example, an acoustic sensor can be integrated into an earpiece housing (e.g., 42, FIG. 4) along the backside thereof (e.g., 45, FIG. 4) and/or within an earbud thereof. The sounds generated from footsteps can be detected and analyzed with a signal processor using a noise cancellation or signal extraction approach to identify footstep sounds in the midst of convoluting physiological noise. In this embodiment, digitized electrical signals from footstep sounds from outside the body are compared with digitized electrical signals from footstep sounds traveling through the body (and ear canal), and only the spectral features associated with both types of digitized signals are amplified. This provides a new signal that contains cleaner information about footsteps.

Breathing characteristics can be monitored in a manner similar to that of acoustic pedometry (described above) via auscultatory signal extraction. In some embodiments, an acoustic sensor in an earpiece module is used to sense sounds associated with breathing. Signal processing algorithms are then used to extract breathing sounds from other sounds and noise. This information is processed into a breathing monitor, capable of monitoring, for example, the intensity, volume, and speed of breathing. Another method of monitoring breathing is to employ pressure transducers into an earpiece module. Changes in pressure inside or near the ear associated with breathing can be measured directly and, through signal processing, translated into a breathing monitor. Similarly, optical reflection sensors can be used to monitor pressure in or near the ear by monitoring physical changes in the skin or tissues in response to breathing. For monitoring the physical changes of the tympanic membrane in response to breathing, and hence ascertaining breathing rate, an optical signal extraction approach may be employed. At least one color sensor, or colorimetric sensor, can be employed to monitor changes in color associated with breathing and other health factors.

It should be noted that some embodiments of the present invention incorporate health sensors that do not employ chemical or biological reagents for monitoring various health factors. This is because such sensors have traditionally required larger instrumentation (not suitable for portability) and/or disposable samplers (not acceptable to most end users). However, sensors employing chemical or biological reagents may be incorporated into earpiece modules, according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, the diffusion of analyte through the skin can be monitored electrically or optically by selective binding to enzymes or antibodies contained in the health sensors integrated into an earpiece module. In some cases, iontophoresis, agitation, heat, or osmosis may be required to pull ions from the skin or blood into the sensor region for monitoring health factors. In some cases, these analytes may be tagged with markers for electromagnetic, electrical, nuclear, or magnetic detection.

Caloric intake, physical activity, and metabolism can be monitored using a core temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a sound extraction methodology, a pulse oximeter, a hydration sensor, and the like. These sensors can be used individually or in unison to assess overall caloric metabolism and physical activity for purposes such as diet monitoring, exercise monitoring, athletic training, and the like. For example, a sound extraction methodology can be used to extract sounds associated with swallowing, and this can give an indication of total food volume consumed. Additionally, a core temperature sensor, such as a thermopile, a pyroelectric sensor, a thermoelectric sensor, or a thermistor, or a tympanic membrane extraction technique, can be used to assess metabolism. In one case, the core temperature is compared with the outdoor temperature, and an estimate of the heat loss from the body is made, which is related to metabolism.

Environmental temperature can be monitored, for example, by thermistor, thermocouple, diode junction drop reference, or the like. Electrical temperature measurement techniques are well known to those skilled in the art, and are of suitable size and power consumption that they can be integrated into a wireless earpiece module (or other monitoring device 10, 21) without significant impact on the size or functionality of the wireless earpiece module.

Environmental noise can be monitored, for example, by transducer, microphone, or the like. Monitoring of environmental noise preferably includes, but is not limited to, instantaneous intensity, spectral frequency, repetition frequency, peak intensity, commonly in units of decibels, and cumulative noise level exposures, commonly in units of decibel-hours. This environmental noise may or may not include noise generated by a person wearing an earpiece module. Sound made by a person wearing an earpiece module may be filtered out, for example, using analog or digital noise cancellation techniques, by directional microphone head shaping, or the like. The environmental noise sensor may or may not be the same sensor as that used for the intended purpose of wireless communication. In some embodiments, the environmental noise sensor is a separate sensor having broader audible detection range of noise level and frequency, at the possible sacrifice of audio quality.

Environmental smog includes VOC's, formaldehyde, alkenes, nitric oxide, PAH's, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, olefins, aromatic compounds, xylene compounds, and the like. Monitoring of the aforementioned smog components can be performed using earpiece modules 40 and other wearable apparatus, according to some embodiments of the present invention, and in a variety of methods. All smog components may be monitored. Alternatively, single smog components or combinations of smog components may be monitored. Photoionization detectors (PID's) may be used to provide continuous monitoring and instantaneous readings. Other methods of detecting smog components according to embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, colorimetric, spectroscopic or chemical reaction methods. Examples of monitoring techniques using the aforementioned methods may include, but are not limited to, IR laser absorption spectroscopy, difference frequency generation laser spectroscopy, porous silicon optical microcavities, surface plasmon resonance, absorptive polymers, absorptive dielectrics, and colorimetric sensors. For example, absorptive polymer capacitors inductors, or other absorptive polymer-based electronics can be incorporated into an earpiece module according to embodiments of the present invention. These polymers change size or electrical or optical properties in response to analyte(s) from the environment (such as those described above). The electrical signal from these absorptive polymer electronic sensors can be correlated with the type and intensity of environmental analyte. Other techniques or combinations of techniques may also be employed to monitor smog components. For example, a smog component may be monitored in addition to a reference, such as oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, or the like. Simultaneous monitoring of smog components with a reference analyte of known concentration allows for calibration of the estimated concentration of the smog component with respect to the reference analyte within the vicinity of an earpiece user.

In some embodiments of the present invention, environmental air particles can be monitored with a flow cell and a particle counter, particle sizer, particle identifier, or other particulate matter sensor incorporated as part of an earpiece module or externally attached to an earpiece module. Non-limiting examples of particles include oil, metal shavings, dust, smoke, ash, mold, or other biological contaminates such as pollen. In some embodiments of the present invention, a sensor for monitoring particle size and concentration is an optical particle counter. A light source is used (e.g., a laser or a laser diode), to illuminate a stream of air flow. However, a directional LED beam, generated by a resonant cavity LED (RCLED), a specially lensed LED, or an intense LED point source, can also be used for particle detection. The optical detector which is off-axis from the light beam measures the amount of light scattered from a single particle by refraction and diffraction. Both the size and the number of particles can be measured at the same time. The size of the monitored particle is estimated by the intensity of the scattered light. Additionally, particles can be detected by ionization detection, as with a commercial ionization smoke detector. In this case, a low-level nuclear radiation source, such as americium-241, may be used to ionize particles in the air between two electrodes, and the total ionized charge is detected between the electrodes. As a further example, piezoelectric crystals and piezoelectric resonator devices can be used to monitor particles in that particles reaching the piezoelectric surface change the mass and hence frequency of electromechanical resonance, and this can be correlated with particle mass. If the resonators are coated with selective coatings, certain types of particles can attach preferentially to the resonator, facilitating the identification of certain types of particles in the air near a person wearing an earpiece module. In some embodiments, these resonators are solid state electrical devices, such as MEMS devices, thin film bulk acoustic resonators (FBARs), surface-acoustic wave (SAW) devices, or the like. These compact solid state components may be arrayed, each arrayed element having a different selective coating, for monitoring various types of particles.

In some embodiments of the present invention, environmental air pressure or barometric pressure can be monitored by a barometer. Non-limiting examples of barometric pressure measurement include hydrostatic columns using mercury, water, or the like, foil-based or semiconductor-based strain gauge, pressure transducers, or the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, semiconductor-based strain gauges are utilized. A strain gauge may utilize a piezoresistive material that gives an electrical response that is indicative of the amount of deflection or strain due to atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure shows a diurnal cycle caused by global atmospheric tides. Environmental atmospheric pressure is of interest for prediction of weather and climate changes. Environmental pressure may also be used in conjunction with other sensing elements, such as temperature and humidity to calculate other environmental factors, such as dew point. Air pressure can also be measured by a compact MEMS device composed of a microscale diaphragm, where the diaphragm is displaced under differential pressure and this strain is monitored by the piezoelectric or piezoresistive effect.

In some embodiments of the present invention, environmental humidity, relative humidity, and dew point can be monitored by measuring capacitance, resistivity or thermal conductivity of materials exposed to the air, or by spectroscopy changes in the air itself. Resistive humidity sensors measure the change in electrical impedance of a hygroscopic medium such as a conductive polymer, salt, or treated substrate. Capacitive humidity sensors utilize incremental change in the dielectric constant of a dielectric, which is nearly directly proportional to the relative humidity of the surrounding environment. Thermal humidity sensors measure the absolute humidity by quantifying the difference between the thermal conductivity of dry air and that of air containing water vapor. Humidity data can be stored along with pressure monitor data, and a simple algorithm can be used to extrapolate the dew point. In some embodiments of the present invention, monitoring humidity is performed via spectroscopy. The absorption of light by water molecules in air is well known to those skilled in the art. The amount of absorption at known wavelengths is indicative of the humidity or relative humidity. Humidity may be monitored with a spectroscopic method that is compatible with the smog monitoring spectroscopic method described above.

When environmental factors such as the aforementioned are monitored continuously in real-time, a user's total exposure level to an environmental factor can be recorded. When a representative volume of air a user has been exposed to is monitored or estimated, the volumetric concentration of the analytes can be calculated or estimated. In order to estimate the volume of air a person wearing an earpiece (or other monitoring device 10, 21) has been exposed to, a pedometer or accelerometer or air flow sensor can also be integrated into the earpiece module 40. Pedometers and accelerometers can be integrated into an earpiece module via mechanical sensors (usually implementing a mechanical-electrical switch), MEMS devices, and/or gyroscopic technologies. The technologies required for these types of pedometers and accelerators are well known to those skilled in the art. The incorporated pedometer or accelerometer (or more than one pedometer or accelerometer) is used to gage the distance a person has traveled, for use in the estimation of the volume of air to which a person has been exposed, and the subsequent estimate of the volumetric concentration of monitored analytes.

The health and environmental sensors 11, 12 utilized with earpiece modules 40 and other wearable monitoring apparatus 10, 21, according to embodiments of the present invention, can operate through a user-selectable switch. However, health and environmental sensors 11, 12 can also be run automatically and independently of the person wearing the apparatus. In other embodiments, the person may control health and environmental monitoring through a device wirelessly coupled to an earpiece module 40, such as a portable telecommunication device 22. For example, health and environmental sensors 11, 12 in or about an earpiece module 40 can be controlled wirelessly through, for example, a cell phone, laptop, or personal digital assistant (PDA).

A wearable monitoring device 10, 21 may be configured such that user preferences can be “downloaded” wirelessly without requiring changes to the hardware. For example, a monitoring device 10, 21 configured to measure a heart condition may have a signal processor 13 that focuses on processing pulse signature, at the expense of ignoring other physiological or environmental parameters. The user may then use a portable telecommunication device 22 to download a specialized algorithm, for example, through the web. This may be accomplished through existing wireless infrastructure. The user will then have a monitoring device 10, 21 suited with analysis software specialized to the needs and desires of the user.

A number of assessments may be generated by a wearable monitor, according to embodiments of the present invention, such as, for example the monitor 10 of FIG. 1. This is because information from physiological and environmental sensors 11, 12 may be analyzed to generate meaningful assessments of health, fitness, stress, and other conditions of an organism, and typically where each type of information is individually insufficient to make the assessment. Table 1 below lists some exemplary assessments, the value of these assessments to a user, and the sensors used to generate these assessments.

TABLE 1 Assessment Value to User Sensors Used VO₂ and VO_(2max) Oxygen usage and aerobic HR, Activity fitness level Metabolic Zone Time in aerobic and HR, Activity, T_(tymp) anaerobic zones Metabolic Equivalent Energy expenditure above HR, Activity, T_(tymp) BMR Active Calories Burned Energy expenditure during HR, Activity activity Total Calories Burned Total energy expenditure HR, Activity, T_(tymp) Hydration Status Relative hydration status Activity, T_(tymp), H_(amb), T_(amb) Heart Rate Variability Cardiovascular health HR, Activity, T_(tymp) Cardiac Response Cardiovascular fitness HR, Activity Stress Psychosocial stress HR, Activity, T_(tymp), BR response Warm-up and Warm-up and recovery HR, Activity, T_(tymp), BR Recovery time, status, and trends Performance External and internal HR, Activity, T_(tymp), BR performance during activity HR = heart rate Activity = subject physical activity T_(tymp) = tympanic membrane temperature T_(amb) = ambient temperature H_(amb) = ambient humidity BR = subject breathing rate

As illustrated above in Table 1, a physiological condition of a subject can be assessed, according to embodiments of the present invention, by detecting and using at least two types of physiological information from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject. Individually, each type of physiological information is insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment. Exemplary physiological information includes, but is not limited to, subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, subject breathing rate. Exemplary physiological condition assessments include, but are not limited to, total calories burned by the subject in a selected time period, subject stress level, subject warm-up time for a physical activity and subject recovery time from the physical activity.

In some embodiments, environmental information from a vicinity of the subject is detected via a monitoring device and used to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject in conjunction with the physiological information. Exemplary environmental information may include, but is not limited to, ambient humidity level, natural humidity level, and ambient temperature. An exemplary physiological condition assessment using environmental information in conjunction with physiological information is subject hydration level.

FIG. 13 shows the heart rate and physical activity data from a user wearing a headset (such as the headsets shown in FIGS. 4-7), also serving as a wearable monitor 10, 21 containing physiological 11 and environmental 12 sensors. In the case of FIG. 13, the user started from rest, took a fifteen minute run, and then returned to rest. Data was sampled each minute, stored, and analyzed on a headset wearable monitor 10. The time when physical activity was started and stopped, as well as the time of maximum and minimum heart rate, is evident from FIG. 13. A linear algorithm factoring maximum and minimum heart rate in context of physical activity may then be generated for predicting the VO₂max of the user.

FIG. 14 shows examples of the performance of this algorithm in predicting the VO_(2max) level of 13 participants starting and stopping a run. In FIG. 14, both the predicted and measured VO_(2max) levels are shown for each participant wearing headset monitor 10. Because the time and duration of each run is recorded, and because the max and min heart rate are recorded, the headset monitor 10 is able to generate an assessment of VO_(2max) for each user following the run. Gender may also be factored into these algorithms, as men typically have a higher VO_(2max) levels than those of women.

A headset monitor 10, according to some embodiments of the present invention, may also contain at least one sensor for measuring ambient humidity. The “ambient environment” is the environment surrounding a subject that has been modified by the subject's presence. The ambient environment is coupled to the subject's internal environment. For example, a warm layer of air surrounds a person as a result of body heat. This warm layer of air can be removed during wind gusts, and the depletion of this layer is chiefly responsible for the feeling of “wind chill.” Thus, ambient humidity is the humidity in the environment surrounding a subject as modified by the presence of the subject.

The “natural state” of an environment represents the environmental conditions that would exist but for the presence of the subject. The natural state is decoupled from the subject's internal state. In some cases, a subject's internal environment does not affect the natural state of an environment to an appreciable degree, and in this case, the ambient and natural states are the same. For example, the density of solar photons hitting a space is not very dependent on a subject's presence.

Because a humidity sensor may be located on a headset itself, the measured ambient humidity will reflect both the natural humidity of a location as well as the localized humidity due to sweat-related humidity from the headset user. The difference between the measured ambient humidity (H_(amb)) and the natural humidity (H_(nat)) may be strongly related to the sweat-related humidity (H_(sweat)). Similarly, the headset monitor 10 may have at least one sensor for measuring ambient temperature (T_(amb)), and the temperature associated with user-related thermal radiation (T_(rad)) may be strongly related to the difference between the measured ambient temperature (T_(amb)) and the natural temperature of the location (T_(nat)). H_(sweat) can be inferred by combining information from multiple sensors in the context of time. For example, T_(amb) and H_(amb) can be measured during inactivity (measured with an activity sensor, such as an accelerometer), and an assessment can be made that these values are more associated with the natural temperature and humidity, T_(nat) and H_(nat). Then, as activity increases, the difference between the new T_(amb) and H_(amb) and the old T_(nat) and H_(nat) may yield T_(sweat) and H_(sweat), which may be more indicative of the sweat-related temperature and humidity. In this embodiment of the invention, it may be important to have information that the user has remained in the same location, to increase the confidence that original ambient measurements (T_(nat) and H_(nat)) can be associated with the natural ambient. In such case, incorporating information regarding ambient lighting L_(amb) may be important to assure that the location remains the same. In another embodiment, incorporating GPS information from a mobile device or within a headset itself may be used to assure that the user remains in the same location. In another embodiment, sensors associated with vital signs, such as heart rate or body temperature, may be used to build confidence that the user has remained in the same location. In another embodiment, sensors associated with activity may be used to build confidence that the user has remained in the same location or that the user has moved from various levels of activity (i.e., from rest to high activity). More generally, embodiments of the present invention include sensing information regarding 1) the natural state of the environment and 2) the ambient environment around an organism wearing a wearable monitor, and generating at least one assessment associated with at least one physiological process of that organism.

FIG. 15 shows data from a 15 minute treadmill run, where the runner is wearing a headset monitor 10. Heart rate (HR), tympanic temperature (T_(tymp)), and sweat-related humidity (H_(sweat)) versus time are presented in the graph. Upon running, the initial blood flow and sweating cooled-down the runner, followed by a gradual warm-up of body temperature (T_(tymp)). T_(tymp) increased for a few minutes once exercise had stopped. From this data, the user may be given an assessment of warm-up, cool-down, and recovery time associated with a physical activity (i.e., a run, etc.). Additionally, an assessment of good hydration may be implied in that increasing H_(sweat) precedes, rather than lags, increasing T_(tymp). In contrast, FIG. 16 shows a case where increasing H_(sweat) lags increasing T_(tymp), which may indicate less hydration or insufficient hydration.

In some embodiments, the invention may be used to generate assessments during everyday life activities. FIG. 17 shows data for a user wearing a headset monitor 10 during a normal work day. Both HR and activity counts are shown. In this particular case, a 3-axis accelerometer was used to generate counts during activity. As the user increases activity, HR can be seen to increase accordingly. If the slopes of both HR and activity counts are analyzed, as in FIG. 18, assessments may be generated. As a specific example, changes in the slope of HR during inactive periods may be associated with stress-related changes in HR. Also, changes in HR during periods of activity may show how quickly HR can “catch up” with physical activity. Similarly, heart rate variability can be used to generate assessments associated with the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. In some cases, assessments of cardiac and/or cardiovascular health may be generated.

A headset monitor 10 may be used to generate assessments associated with thermoregulatory functioning. FIG. 19 shows data for a ten-minute outdoor walk, with HR, T_(tymp), and activity counts being measured. Note that T_(tymp) increases with both increasing activity and increasing HR, suggesting normal thermoregulatory functioning.

A headset monitor 10 may be used to generate assessments associated with calories burned. FIG. 20 shows a Bland-Altman plot for thirteen headset users, comparing both measured and predicted calories burned. The measured caloric burn rate was determined using gas exchange analysis, and the predicted caloric burn rate came from algorithms processed in the headset 10. These algorithms processed calories burned factoring HR and activity counts, as well as gender, height, and weight. However, FIG. 20 represents active calories burned only—the calories burned during exercise. To generate an assessment of total calories burned, data from T_(tymp) may be factored into the algorithm. This is because T_(tymp) increases with increasing caloric burn rate, as shown in FIG. 21. Thus, even in periods of little or no activity, a total predicted caloric burn rate may be generated by processing sensor information from HR, activity counts, and T_(tymp) in a real-time algorithm. In such case, the absolute T_(tymp), change in T_(tymp) with time, change in T_(tymp) with respect to the change in other sensor data, and/or the differential temperature between T_(tymp) and other temperature sensors (such as T_(amb), T_(skin), T_(thermistor), and others) may be factored into an algorithm for total calories burned and/or resting calories burned.

Table 1 and FIGS. 15-19 emphasize the importance of measuring inertia or activity for generating high-level assessments, such as assessments of calories burned, hydration status, stress, warm-up/recovery time, and the like. Measuring activity may provide a contextual reference for algorithms to help generate the assessments. For example, activity status can provide context for when a subject begins exercise and ceases exercise, and combining this information with temperature and humidity data can provide an indication of how well the user is hydrated. Without activity information, it may be difficult to tell if changes in body temp or humidity are associated with exercise or internal or external factors, such as internal problems with homeostasis or external heat and humidity.

Health and environmental monitors, according to embodiments of the present invention, enable low-cost, real-time personal health and environmental exposure assessment monitoring of various health factors. An individual's health and environmental exposure record can be provided throughout the day, week, month, or the like. Moreover, because the health and environmental sensors can be small and compact, the overall size of an apparatus, such as an earpiece, can remain lightweight and compact.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

1. A method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject, comprising: detecting at least two types of physiological information from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject; and making an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein each type of physiological information is individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject tympanic membrane temperature, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is total calories burned by the subject in a selected time period.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject stress level.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject warm-up time for a physical activity and subject recovery time from the physical activity.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting environmental information from a vicinity of the subject via the monitoring device; and making an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and the environmental information.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, wherein the environmental information comprises ambient humidity level, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject hydration level.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured to be worn at or near an ear of the subject.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing information to the subject about the physiological condition assessment via a portable device in communication with the monitoring device.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device comprises a headset device, and wherein information is provided to the subject about the physiological condition assessment via the headset device.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive input from the subject, and wherein the assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information and information input into the monitoring device by the subject.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured to measure a natural state of an environment in the vicinity of the subject and an ambient state of the environment in the vicinity of the subject, and wherein the assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information and information about the natural state and ambient state of the environment in the vicinity of the subject.
 12. A method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject, comprising: detecting at least two types of physiological information from a subject via a portable monitoring device worn at or near an ear of the subject; detecting environmental information from a vicinity of the subject via the portable monitoring device; making an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and the environmental information, wherein the environmental information and at least two types of physiological information are individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment; and providing information to the subject about the physiological condition assessment via a portable device in communication with the monitoring device.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject tympanic membrane temperature, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is total calories burned by the subject in a selected time period.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject stress level.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject warm-up time for a physical activity or subject recovery time from the physical activity.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least two types of physiological information comprise subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, wherein the environmental information comprises ambient humidity level, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject hydration level.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device comprises a headset device, and wherein information is provided to the subject about the physiological condition assessment via the headset device.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive input from the subject, and wherein the assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information and information input into the monitoring device by the subject.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is configured to measure a natural state of an environment in the vicinity of the subject and an ambient state of the environment in the vicinity of the subject, and wherein the assessment of a physiological condition of the subject is made using the at least two types of physiological information and information about the natural state and ambient state of the environment in the vicinity of the subject.
 20. A method of assessing a physiological condition of a subject, comprising: detecting at least two types of the following physiological information from a subject via a portable monitoring device associated with the subject: subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject temperature; detecting environmental conditions in a vicinity of the subject; and making an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and the environmental information, wherein the environmental information and at least two types of physiological information are individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment, and wherein the subject physiological condition is selected from the group consisting of: VO₂, VO_(2max), metabolic zone, metabolic equivalent, active calories burned, total calories burned, hydration status, heart rate variability, cardiac response, stress level, warm up time, recovery time, activity performance level.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein subject temperature is tympanic membrane temperature.
 22. A monitoring apparatus, comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject; at least one physiological sensor attached to the housing that is configured to detect at least two types of physiological information from the subject; and a processor configured to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information, wherein the at least two types of physiological information are individually insufficient to make the physiological condition assessment.
 23. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect two or more of the following types of physiological information: subject heart rate, subject activity level, and subject tympanic membrane temperature, and wherein the processor is configured to make an assessment of total calories burned by the subject in a selected time period.
 24. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect two or more of the following types of physiological information: subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and wherein the processor is configured to make an assessment of subject stress level.
 25. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one physiological sensor is configured to detect two or more of the following types of physiological information: subject heart rate, subject activity level, subject tympanic membrane temperature, and subject breathing rate, and wherein the physiological condition assessment is subject warm-up time for a physical activity or subject recovery time from the physical activity.
 26. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, further comprising at least one environmental sensor attached to the housing that is configured to detect environmental information from a vicinity of the subject, and wherein the a processor is configured to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and the environmental information.
 27. The monitoring apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one environmental sensor is configured to detect ambient humidity level, and wherein the processor is configured to make an assessment of hydration level of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and the ambient humidity level information.
 28. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the housing is configured to be attached to an ear of the subject.
 29. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the housing is configured to be attached near an ear, head, or neck region of the subject.
 30. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the housing is an earbud housing, headset housing, or neckpiece housing
 31. The monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the monitoring device is configured to receive input from the subject, and wherein the processor is configured to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and information input into the monitoring device by the subject.
 32. The monitoring apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one environmental sensor is configured to measure a natural state of an environment in the vicinity of the subject and an ambient state of the environment in the vicinity of the subject, and wherein the processor is configured to make an assessment of a physiological condition of the subject using the at least two types of physiological information and information about the natural state and ambient state of the environment in the vicinity of the subject.
 33. A hydration status monitoring apparatus, configured to be worn at or near the body of a subject, comprising at least one humidity sensor in communication with at least one physical activity sensor and signal processor.
 34. The hydration status monitoring apparatus of claim 33, wherein the at least one humidity sensor is configured to measure a first humidity value during a time period of subject physical activity and a second humidity value during a time period of subject rest, and wherein the signal processor is configured to calculate hydration status of the subject using the difference between the first and second humidity values.
 35. The hydration status monitoring apparatus of claim 33, wherein the humidity sensor, activity sensor, and signal processor are integrated into a single wearable device.
 36. The hydration status monitoring apparatus of claim 33, wherein the at least one humidity sensor, activity sensor, and signal processor are in communication with each other through at least one wireless connection.
 37. A hydration status monitoring apparatus, comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a body of a subject; a humidity sensor attached to the housing and configured to measure a first humidity value during a time period of subject physical activity and a second humidity value during a time period of subject rest; an activity sensor attached to the housing and configured to measure physical activity of the subject; and a signal processor attached to the housing and configured to calculate hydration status of the subject using the difference between the first and second humidity values.
 38. The monitoring apparatus of claim 37, wherein the housing is configured to be attached to an ear, head, or neck region of the subject. 